It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve played or conducted “Pomp and Circumstance”, by Sir Edward Elgar, I get teary-eyed at every graduation I’ve attended. This has been going on for thirty-five years. To make matters worse, this year I got to attend the graduation of one of my favorite nieces. Eight hundred seniors paraded into the giant sports arena in Orlando, Florida. My niece’s smiling face appeared high above us on the jumbo screen and I was too much of a wet mess to snap a descent photo! Thank goodness for her sister—she got a picture when I could not.
The music triggers the first wave of emotion, but it can’t compare to the rush of feelings that come on while I anticipate seeing a loved one take the ceremonial walk—here is where the flood gates open freely. The love I have for my niece deepens. The times we’ve cherished together for years come rushing back like a sentimental tsunami, knocking me over—the Thanksgiving visits, summer vacations, phone calls, school events, and bonding moments carry me back to those fun days as if they were only yesterday.
Past and present come together as one
It’s amazing how the spirit can quicken a memory in an instant—during the duration of the march, a lifetime of recollections come back in vivid color. I count that as one of the blessings we receive from our Heavenly Father. Tender mercies from heaven are like gentle rays of spiritual sunshine reminding us that life is worth living. Sweet memories are photographs in our mind’s eye of eternal truths, forever preserved in an endless treasury of time.
Along with the slide-show of times gone by, images of an exciting future for my niece swirl in my mind as well—what an amazing person she is, how exciting it will be for her to step out into the world and explore life, how an entire world is waiting for her to discover. The sting in the eyes and the lump in the throat return—seeing the past side by side with the future is all part of the cycle of loving your family!
Parallel Mirrors—Reflections of the Past and Present
Graduation may be a day in the life of a graduate, but it also can be a reflective moment for the rest of us—how we see ourselves, where we’ve come from, and where we are going. In the sealing rooms of the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where Mormon couples are married, there are two mirrors that sit opposite an altar. When a couple kneels next to each other at the altar they can see their reflection go one for eternity. It symbolizes their eternal relationship in heaven together when they make the sacred covenants that bind them in marriage for time and all eternity.
The symbolic nature of these mirrors is not limited to the sealing rooms of the temple. It can also reflect other turning points in a person’s life, like graduation day or any other milestone or accomplishment. When we look behind us and see the eternal reflection, it can bring to mind the hard work, the successes and failures, the people who have stood by us, and the perseverance that it took to accomplish our goals. Likewise the mirror before us represents the endless possibilities of where we can now go with the knowledge and the wisdom we’ve gained from our hard work.
Perspective drives your choices—looking forward with faith
While some may see the eternal possibilities of the future after graduation, others may feel sorrow for the endings they now leave behind. There is a sense of security and comfort in the familiar things in life. Ending them and jumping into a strange world can feel frightening or sad. Perspective drives your choices. A positive outlook is crucial to choosing happiness. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke about our relationship with eternity. He said, “…we are made of the stuff of eternity. We are eternal beings, children of the Almighty God, whose name is Endless and who promises eternal blessings without number. Endings are not our destiny.” For those who may fear the future, take heed in his remarks. We truly are eternal beings who strive for the next challenge that comes our way. We can take comfort in knowing that our nature is eternal—so too is our Father in Heaven’s nature. This puts each milestone in its proper perspective. As President Uchtdorf stated, “How grateful I am to my Heavenly Father that in his plan there are no true endings, only everlasting beginnings (President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Grateful in Any Circumstances, General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, April 2014).
Being Grateful in our Circumstances
And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more” (Doctrine and Covenants 78:19).
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President Uchtdorf spoke of the invaluable practice of gratitude. He explained that if we wait to be grateful for the good things that happen, we miss out on the rich blessings we receive by being grateful in the moment of our circumstances. Heavenly Father has asked us to be grateful in all things—not just what is good. If we open our window of understanding to the eternal possibilities of gratitude, we can see what he sees. All that we have comes from a loving Father in Heaven and is designed for our eternal benefit. He is not a god of spite or anger, but one of everlasting love. Being grateful in our circumstances is the key to happiness in life, whether we are facing a sentimental ending or an unknown future.
The “everlasting beginnings” that await each of us are divine gifts from heaven. If we remember to see them for their spiritual worth we will not fear what lies ahead. Our future leads to an everlasting eternity with the ones we love.
Nanette O'Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.
