Friends: Childhood melts away and life’s challenges and opportunities beckon as high school graduates contemplate the places they’ll go. 

--- --- ---

Spirituality Column #1021

June 9, 2026

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

‘Off and Away!’

By Pamela Walters

“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away!” – Theodor Gesiel, aka Dr. Seuss, from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”

(We’re turning over the column this week to my wife Pam, taken from her commencement address May 22 to the Mission Christian Academy class of 2026: 29 strong! – Bob)

“In the past four years in my English classes – and for a few of you, five years – we have read pieces by a wide assortment of authors, from Shakespeare to C.S. Lewis, Dickens, Agatha Christie, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Mary Shelley.  The names of the greatest writers the world has known have surrounded you each day in class.  But there is one very well-known and well-loved writer whom we did not study: Dr. Seuss.

“So … a bit of Seuss-ism on this auspicious day.

“‘Congratulations!  Today is your day.  You’re off to Great Places!  You’re off and away!  You have brains in your head.  You have feet in your shoes.  You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.  You’re on your own.  And you know what you know.  And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

“While we can agree with some of what Dr. Seuss wrote, as Christians, we have a different mindset when we look to the future.  True: this is your day.  Many of you have worked hard to achieve this goal.  You have persevered and finished well.  “You all ‘have brains in your head,’ and we hope that educationally you are prepared for whatever path you travel from here.  But more importantly, we pray that you keep your mind on Christ and that His Word is written on your hearts. ‘In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.’ Most of you have made your first big decision: it’s college or technical school, the military or the work force. While you can ‘steer yourself in any direction you choose,’ we pray that you are allowing Jesus to guide your steps, that you are seeking His will for your life. 

“‘Oh, the places you’ll go!  You’ll be on your way up!  You’ll be seeing great sights! You’ll join the high fliers who soar to great heights.  Wherever ‘you fly, you’ll be best of the best.  Wherever you go, you’ll top all the rest.  Except when you don’t.  Because sometimes you won’t.  I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, its true that Bang-ups and Hang-Ups can happen to you.’

“Those of us who have spent so much time with you here and have come to love and care for you wish we could tell you that as long as you stay close to Jesus and attempt in every way to do His will, life will be nothing but joy and happiness and success.  But that isn’t how life goes in this fallen world.  There will be ‘bang ups and hang ups.’ challenges, disappointments, and failures. 

“The Bible tells us there will be trials.  But the big difference between facing trials on your own and facing them with Jesus is that He promised He would always be with you; Jesus will never leave you or forsake you.  You know my story; you know life has not been a cake walk.  But in the disappointments, Jesus was hope. In the darkness, He was light. When I didn’t think I could take any more, He was my strength. Let Jesus be your hope, your light, your strength. ‘For with Him, you can do all things.’

“‘Oh, the places you’ll go!  There is fun to be done!  There are points to be scored.  There are games to be won.  Fame!  You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.  Except when you don’t.  Because, sometimes, you won’t.  I’m afraid that sometimes you’ll play lonely games too.  All alone!  Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.  And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.  There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.  But on you will go though the weather be foul.  On you will go, though your enemies prowl.’

“On you will be able to go as long as you put your trust in Jesus, for with Him, you will never be alone.  You need to remember that you have never been alone.  While this is a time of beginning – that’s why it’s called commencement – please look back at where you’ve been.  You have families who have surrounded you with their love and support.  Here at MCA you have had teachers and staff who have encouraged you and prayed for you and have come to love you.  And we will all still be here for you should you ever need us.

“‘On and on you will hike, and I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.  You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. So be sure where you step; step with care and great tact.”  The world will try to trip you up; Satan loves to cause confusion and fear.  But remember that “our God is not a God of confusion but of peace.”  So ‘let us lay aside every weight and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.’

“Congratulations! Today is the Lord’s day. You’re off to great places. You’re off and away.”  We love you, we’re excited for you, and we will be praying for you. 

“God bless.”

The Faculty and Staff of Mission Christian Academy

Mr. Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) notes that Mrs. Walters’ “Charge to Seniors” (which also appears in MCA’s 2025-26 Yearbook) is an annual graduation send-off, this year to MCA’s fourth graduating class. Mission Christian Academy in Fishers, Indiana, a K-12 private school, begins its seventh school year this August. MCA’s inaugural enrollment was 38 in 2020-21; enrollment this fall exceeds 750.