Graduation was on Mother's Day, about a week ago, and I am just now coming out of the post-school-year fog. Finals week was pretty overwhelming, and I had to do an all-nighter on Wednesday to get everything turned in on time, but I was able to finish well and enjoy the weekend's festivities.
On Friday we had graduation practice (Dr. Hahn told us how to hold our hoods) and an alumni lunch, which was fun. They gave us a stack of free books and a nice little sandwich to eat while we were encouraged not to forget the institution where we earned our degrees (as if we could). Then they led us through an alumni induction liturgy, which included singing (of course) and walking through the hallway where they keep all the former NTS class pictures. It was pretty meaningful, and I had a chance to catch up with Heather Bryant (former roommate, now at EUNC in Germany) and Dana Preusch (a former pastor).
Saturday morning my parents came up to go to the graduate chapel service at NTS. I led the congregational singing (always a barrel of monkeys) with Dr. Noble at the organ. He was one of three professors who came on the Israel trip--Dr. Hahn and Dr. Benefiel were the other two. My first year here I had Dr. Noble in Systematic Theology I, during which I sat in the front row with my theological dictionary, frantically writing down as much of his lectures as I possibly could. I enjoyed the class so much that I took three more in subsequent semesters. I also really enjoyed the two classes I had with Dr. Hahn, and hope someday to sit in one of Dr. Benefiel's courses. But I digress. One of the neat things they planned for the chapel service was sort of a "testimony time" where graduates could come up to the mike and say thank you to people who had enabled their seminary survival. My main thank-yous went to my parents, Michael, Drs. Keith and Judi Schwanz, Dr. Hardy, and some close spiritual friends. The only thing we didn't do that I wish we had was have the profs come and do a "laying on of hands" with the graduates. The various gatherings during the graduation weekend were a nice rite of passage, but the sending element was missing. Maybe it's because I just did a big study of the book of Acts, but I feel this is important. I also feel strongly about lunch, which we ate at Avenues after the service. Mmm.
Saturday night was the big banquet in downtown KC. It was held at a nice, old venue, and the food was good. But my favorite part was the speaker, Dr. Spaulding. Picture a tall southern man with an accent and a humorous philosophical bent towards life. I had two classes with him and loved every minute of them. We (parents and manfriend) had great company at our table, and I enjoyed chattering on with Mike Coblentz and Darin and Autumn Scholl, some relatively recent friends that Michael and I have been getting to know better.
Sunday was pretty surreal. In the morning we visited KC First Church of the Nazarene for their "graduation service", where my very smart friend Josh Johnson (also a graduate) preached the sermon. It was great. If I'm still around this fall I may take the Hebrew course he's teaching. After the service we enjoyed some Japanese food and then went home for a quick nap and gown-ironing. Then it was off to First Church again for Commencement! They herded all the grads into a side room for about 45 minutes before the service. Apparently there was some concern about graduate students' ability to get in a proper line. I wandered around and enjoyed chatting with other graduates and friends from the Israel trip, and managed to catch Aimee as she came in the back door! She helped me get my hat fixed (why do they have to be so awkward?). Then it was time to go in...weird feeling. It's so formal to walk in long lines of people dressed exactly--and strangely--like you. My gown made me feel fluffy and I was afraid I would carry my hood in the wrong spot and they would end up putting it on me backwards or upside down or something. I don't remember too much of the ceremony itself, except for walking across the stage to shake hands with Dr. Benefiel, accepting my diploma, and being hooded by Dr. Hahn. The speaker was ok, but I was mostly just glad to be around friends and family when it was over. Mine and Michael's parents came, and Michael of course, along with Sherry, Gabe, Mary Ann, and Roger, Genie, Karla, and Aimee--there may have been more but that's who I saw while I was there! It's kind of a blur.
Sunday afternoon after the ceremony we went over to Michael's parents house in Overland Park for a party, which was awesome. It was so nice of everybody to come over--the aforementioned folks who came to graduation, along with Jonathan, Johanna, Jennifer, the Scholls, the Petersons (who came twice because they're nice!), Luke, the Fisks, Jeremy, and Gigi. It was a fun time with lots of tasty foods. Mine and Michael's parents worked hard to make it nice, and it was. I collapsed when it was all over. At least I think it's over. I may go into doctoral studies someday, but for now I am quite content to be graduated with my masters.
Thanks be to God.
1 comments:
My cup runneth over with thankfulness!
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