RITES OF PASSAGE, or IT'S DIFFERENT NOW THAT IT'S CHANGED

   Twice in  the past week I have  attended ceremonies that meant 
"something is now different in my life" for the honorees.

   Anthropologists and other academics refer to these ritualized times as 'Rites of Passage'.  So, a couple of definitions:

RITE OF PASSAGE:  
  ...Rituals/ceremonies that indicate that a  person has reached a transitional place in life. E.g., births, puberty, marriage, graduation, career change, having children, death.
  ...Ceremonies marking a change in status
  ...These rites help the person understand their new roles in society.

  Seth and Kiira were married last Sunday afternoon.  The Bride was 'stunningly beautiful'; the Groom barely able to contain his great joy; the day was 'sun-drenched'; the great outdoors capturing the expansive love and good-will of those attending; etc.  ALL those cliches are true !

   
   I met Seth Carper, the teen-ager, when I became pastor of his church.  He's now on the cusp of 34 but it was 'like yesterday' when I gave his 8th Grade Graduation Address.  Suddenly, he is an adult. 
  
    A jazz musician and human being extraordinaire ,  he has channeled his creativity through a range of professional expressions:  public school music teacher, member of several bands, performer on cruise ship lines as well as Carneige Hall, instructor at CCNY...and probably others.  (Google: Seth Carper.  Note ...get the musician. There are others.)

   Kiira has also achieved significant professional stature and recognition.  (Google: Kiira Schmidt.)  

     This Fall, they will be living in the Southwest U.S. as Seth begins Doctoral studies.

     Watching the wedding service of vows and rings, I felt gratitude for their friendship and for the anticipation and Promise that their new 'status' and relationship hold.

    Then on Thursday evening, I attended the graduation for the Residents in our Network's  training program.  Among the five  graduates were three men with whom I had worked.  Their Professional 'apprenticeship' has included --beyond their MA degree and Internship --a three year Residency with a 3000 hour  clinical component.  They are now Licensed Professional Counselors.  Watching these exercises, I felt tremendous admiration for their commitment and perseverance as well as their personal integrity.  Their backgrounds diverge greatly and each of them is uniquely talented to provide competent, sensitive counsel for their counselees.  Nick has more energy than anyone I have known in a long time.  He balances many tasks well.  Carleton and Jaime have made career changes...that within itself is a special kind of challenge.  Jaime also gets an additional salute as the Elder Statesman of the cadre who became our Intern after a distinguished military career, including three deployments in Iraq.  I am honored to have them as colleagues.

 

                                              With l-r  Carleton, Nick and "Colonel" Jaime

    Having achieved this transitional milestone, their lives also will be different as they fill their new societal and personal roles.

      On both of these occasions ...a beautiful wedding  and an impressive graduation ceremony ...it occurred to me that not only are these persons now different than they were previously,  but also those of us who have the privilege of being their 'cheerleaders' have been influenced and changed because of our relationships with them.  

    They are beneficiaries of many person's love, encouragement, influence, and hopes.  On the other hand, we of the 'older generation', chronologically or experientially, gain by their influence upon us.  They can help in 'keeping us young' in our attitudes and openness to new experiences and understandings of life.  

    Jaime says it well: "Life is Good" !

        Satchel