Well, it’s graduation time once again, and large numbers of seniors are about to take that huge step out into the world - whether it be going away to a college or technical school, entering the job market, serving in the military or getting married and starting a new family.

There will be ceremonies with flowery speeches exalting the work students have already completed and painting pictures of them achieving all their dreams and goals.

Indeed, graduation is an important milestone in the lives of our young people. But it can also be bit scary for them and for the rest of us as we see them leave the security of their homesand families and set out on their own course.

If they are like my generation, they set out with hopes and dreams for the future - hopes for a successful career, a happy marriage and a good and loving family. We wish them these things, but we also know all too well from our own experiences that those hopes and dreams we have for that perfect life where we live “happily ever after” are quickly shattered by the reality of the world in which we live. We dream of a perfect world but find that we and the world in which we live are far from perfect.

As I’ve watched my own children grow up and go out on their own, it washard for me, knowing the hurt and pain that they will likely suffer in their lives - some of it because of their own foolish mistakes and some because of the world in which we live.

I feel the same as I watch our young people here who are graduating and going out into the world. They may have already experienced and accomplished much in their school years, but now they must take that big step into the rest of their lives. How will they do? What will happen to them?

I don’t doubt that many will be successful and lead productive lives. I certainly expect our graduates, for the most part, will findmuch happiness and joy along the way. But, at the same time, I want them to know that they will face untold challenges and also come to know hurt, disappointment and pain. Not everything will go asthey hope and plan, and there will be times when it seems like nothing has.

And there is a reason for all of this, even though many do not believe it. The reason goes back to a historical event recorded for our instruction in the book of Genesis, the third chapter. We have hopes and dreams of a perfect life in a perfect world - not surprising since we were made for such - but neither the world nor our lives are perfect anymore because of our own disobedience and rebellion against God’s perfect will and plan.

Hence, dreams are shattered by evil, tragedy, sickness, pain and ultimately death. To say anything less might be more pleasing to the ear, but it would also be untruthful and dishonest to our young people.

The solution and remedy for our imperfect lives in an imperfect world is also found in the same Book,where it is promised that the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent and remove the curse brought upon us - a promised fulfilled by the crucified and risen Messiah and Savior who is in the Book of Revelation pictured coming again in glory to establish an eternal kingdom in which there will be no more tears, sorrow or death.

Not many of the speeches you’ll hear will paint such a picture of life. But think about it. Whose words are true? The commencement speaker who talks of nothing but success, accomplishments and realized dreams? or the speaker who says life’s hard and not all will go asyou planned, but don’t give up because there is hope?

Though some might call my words “gloom and doom,” they are, in fact, “reality and truth.”

And so, in the midst of all the flowery speeches,painting an almost perfect picture of the future for our young graduates here in this world, I speak of a less than perfect world in which joy and happiness are mixed with pain and sorrow.

While most would direct our graduates to hope in themselves and never give up on their dreams, I would direct our young graduates to learn of and place their hopes and dreams in the only One who can remedy our imperfections and the heartaches of this world and lead us safely through this life to Himself in heaven.

Go forward into life holding fast to Jesus and seek the truth and guidance which is only found in His Word!

Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Decatur Herald and the Gentry Courier-Journal. He may be reached by e-mail at rmoll @ nwaonline .com.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 05/19/2010