Baccalaureate Benediction - Kurt Nelson

A prayer especially for graduates:

You have been told for four years,

that you’re the best and the brightest.

You’ve been told countless times that "the world’s troubles are your troubles."

And if - by the end of this weekend -

you can count the number of times you've been told to,

"Go out and change the world,"

I'll be surprised. 

But I might humbly suggest,

in the midst of the whirlwind that is this weekend,

that you take a moment to Pause,

and let your blessings catch up with you.*

Courage and Success - Kurt Nelson

Rollins Chapel. 6/3/12

Jeremiah 1:5*             
Philippians 4:4-9*

This concludes our chapel series for the year,

as well as our month-long discussion of courage.

Courage was really Richard’s topic.

And I don’t think I’m alone

in thinking that he’s probably shirked his duties a bit,

by really only offering us half a sermon on the subject.

But, we carry on…

And I will say,

I’ve come to understand,

as you’ll soon see,

that the idea of courage

really resonates with me.

And I’m certainly glad to be able to offer

something of a farewell sermon,

as I prepare for the next step.

Though it was made immediately clear,

as I sat down to write,

that I can’t do justice to the value and learning

of this place and people to me,

over the past five years.

In these 8-10 minutes.

So I’m not really going to try.

But fear not.

I still have some thoughts.

Those of you who know me well,

likely know

that I carry with me a good number of questions.

And one of those questions,

is about what I should really be doing with my life,

professionally speaking.

I love the work I do,

and especially the people I work with.

But still, I feel pulled in many directions.