Life seems to be a series of starts and stops; a series of firsts and lasts.

I am preparing my lesson for Sunday entitled Graduate From High School Not Your Faith so I’ve been thinking a lot about this curious aspect of life. Remember back to your school career.

For twelve years everything is your first: first day to school, first field trip, first time to read, first time to write in cursive, first test…

Then you become a Senior. Even if you contracted Senioritis your freshman year, everything you did that year had a sense of finality to it.

Your last first day in High School.
Your last pep rally in High School.
Your last ball game in High School.
Your last assembly in High School.
Your last dance in High School.
Your last day in High School.

I’ve been preparing my lesson with this idea in mind. There are some scary stats out there that say there is a 50-60% chance that once a student graduates from High School they graduate from their faith as well. Some believe that percent is even higher. Most churches will celebrate a Senior sunday- a day to honor and bless their graduates- this week.

For many Seniors this Sunday might be their last.

Scary indeed.