y any etymological measure， a commencement is a be
ginning， not an end. We tend to think of Commencement
Day and commencement ceremonies as a termination， a
conclusion， a celebration of past effort wrapped up in a
glorious moment of achievement. But to commence means to
begin， to get going， to be on your way.
This action perspective， this future focus can be unset-
tling， anxiety-laden. It is not surprising that a graduating
class finds delight in c~lebrating the recent past and prefers
to postpone the personal and private breakaway into an un-
known future. To commence， however， means to begin. It is
time now to celebrate your new beginning. It is time to face
up to the demands of commencing.
But before commencing， let us pray: \"Lord， make me
know your ways. Lord， teach me your paths.\" That prayerful
plea of the psalmist (Ps 25) is as relevant on the lips of to-
day s commencer as it was when first uttered centuries be-
fore Christ. If you are inclined to start out without a prayer，
you will probably end up without a prayer--without achiev-
ing the special goal God intends for you. If the centuries have
taught the human community anything， the perennial lesson
is contained in this simple sentence in the same 25th Psalm:
\"If anyone fears the Lord， he will show him the path he
should choose.\" Fear， in the sense of reverence and respect
for the Lord who loves you and holds your destiny in his
hands， is a worthy graduation gift. He will show you the
path you should choose.
So， commencing involves choosing. And， in the face of
choice， the anxiety level rises just a bit higher. \"I a stranger
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