silver lining

Yesterday I was at a commencement orientation for UC Davis staff who were volunteering to help out this weekend during the different commencement ceremonies occurring on campus. During this orientation, the different student speakers for each ceremony do a run-through of their speech in order to practice in front of a live audience. Each of the speeches all seemed to have a common theme this year: graduating into an uncertain world that includes high unemployment rates. However, one of the student speakers said something that really stood out to me:

"Because everyone understands that finding a job directly out of college will be very difficult in these uncertain times, our graduating class has basically been given a free pass to instead explore opportunities that don't include the 9-5 entry level desk jobs. Instead of worrying about how hard life will be once we graduate, we should instead be celebrating this freedom we've been given that comes from not having certain expectations placed on us. Now's the time to pursue what we are passionate about because there's nothing else to lose!"

I thought this was an insightful and even inspiring twist on what it means to 'make the best of one's circumstances'. In a letter to the Thessalonians, Paul shares similar sentiments by reminding them to keep the faith and be thankful no matter what obstacles life throws at them because this is God's will for us (1 Thess. 5:16-18). I think Paul isn't saying to be thankful when crappy things happen to you, but rather be thankful of what can be learned through these situations--- things like patience and forgiveness. Or be thankful for how you can be used in these situations. Or even later down the road, be thankful by how you were molded to be the person you are now by these situations. Instead of focusing and dwelling on the sometimes depressing aspects of our circumstances, I need to instead respond by thinking about what God wants to teach us and how God wants to shape us and use us during these difficult times. As the saying goes, "Don't lose hope. When it gets darkest, the stars come out."