Saturday, June 9, 2012

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.*

Monday, June 4, 2012

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.