pomp and circumstance

Pomp and Circumstance has been around since 1901. That's a long time for a graduation-exit piece of music although I'm sure it was not used as such for its tenure. Regardless of any of that, my life will soon be graced by pomp and circumstance (or a hymn perhaps?). Graduation is in 3 days and I can hardly believe it! I had my last final at 8:00 this morning and left an hour later with a huge smile on my face. I'm done. I am finally done with college! It's sort of unbelievable. I mean, it went incredibly fast but at the same time I have lived within the walls of this campus for 4 years and that is a pretty big deal. I don't know what to expect at 12:00 Saturday, officially an IWU alumni. That fear-filled lack of expectation is the same filling that sends electricity through me at the same time. I am excited beyond words. I cannot wait to discover what more is out there and where God will be taking me next. I have absolutely no idea what is happening after Saturday but I am happy nonetheless. I don't even have a job lined up, not because of a lack of searching by any means; I just suppose it is not God's timing yet. There are so many things that lay ahead...

Past graduates (oxymoron?) have said the biggest struggle and change to deal with post-graduation is loneliness. That surprised me in a way but it makes sense. However, I wonder how that will be different for me. I can recall several times when I was truly lonely while at IWU. So many times when companionship was far away and all I could do was be quietly with the Lord (okay, sometimes not quietly..sometimes loud sobs!). Maybe its naive of me to think I won't be lonely but I am just really looking forward to change. I love the people here and will miss my friends dearly but I can't wait to learn new stories and meet new faces.

There's a pretty big world out there.