In a time when the news is filled with the stark terror of what is worse in our young men and young women, events such as the graduation at Trenton High School refresh the hope and confidence in our youth.  Addressing a large crowd of family and friends, two young women presented their final thoughts for the graduating class of 1999.  While their thoughts were well organized, sprinkled with remembrances of their days in school, adding laughter here and there - what struck me most about these two young ladies was how they ended their speeches.
They did not appeal to the great minds of men who tout themselves as being the answer to the questions of life.  Nor was there a plea for the other young people gathered to look to themselves for their guidance.  As each young lady finished their speech, they appealed to the highest source of wisdom ever given to man - the word of God.
In a day when God is no longer allowed in many schools throughout our nation, these young ladies raised their voice to affirm the importance of the words of God in the lives of young people.  It would have been easy to deliver a stirring speech with great words of great men who would enlighten the minds of everyone in the audience.  But the conclusion of the whole matter was considered in light of what God thought - and what these two young ladies believed was important for all to hear.
This should remind us all of the problems and the solutions we have in our world today.  In a world that believes the only way to find happiness is to believe only in oneself - a beacon of great faith glows forth upon the hearts of a generation that needs so desperately to know God.  The problem with our young people is not the ability to get guns but the inability to know God.  Humanism has so evaded our world that we now are suffering the realities of its teaching.
Humanism turns man into a basic animal with no feelings and love for one another.  Animals bite and devour one another for supremacy and power.  When God is taken out of the schools and out of the homes - man is left a shroud of animal instincts that will destroy and kill and maim.  Homes are no longer the bastion of security and love where God dwells.  From the shattered remnants of broken homes where children are left with no guidance - to the cry of abortion advocates who would makes us believe we are only animals - to the world of television that glorifies the essence of violence, murder, rape, sexual freedom and pornography.  No wonder we have lost so many young people.
But then a Thursday night on a cool evening of pomp and circumstance appears and reminds us of the words of the wise man:  "Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, "I have no pleasure in them": (Ecclesiastes 12:1)  I am thankful that these two young ladies - having the distinction of being the Salutatorian and Valedictorian of their graduating class - appealed to their Creator for direction.
May God richly bless us with more communities where God can still be spoken of in reverence and awe.  Thank you for parents who still seek to instill the old paths in the hearts and minds of their children.  Oh, that those who listened to those words would feel the impact of the word of God in their lives.  Thank God for a small piece of this world where prayer and the words of God can still be heard and appreciated.  Thank God for two young ladies who stood before the world and declared their faith in God.

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