A letter to Lancer Alumni…
“Experience is not what happens to a man. It’s what a man does with what happens to him.”
English philosopher and novelist Aldous Huxley penned these words many decades ago. And, while definitely not a model of Christian virtue or worldview, Huxley certainly spoke the truth when he wrote this particular statement.
When it comes to the investments we here at Cambridge make into the lives of students, there’s obviously no way for us to forecast the myriad of events, opportunities and challenges each of you face now that you have stepped away from our school and moved into this very rapidly changing world. Our intent, while you were with us, was to offer some resources for you to use in meeting such an uncertain future. Some of those resources came in the form of intellectual tools and factual data. Others were located within skills and talents that we attempted to nurture on a stage or in a sports venue. Even more vital were those we sought to transmit in the form of moral and Biblical principles shared in classes, chapels and personal interactions you had with your teachers and classmates.
It’s no mystery, of course, that as you navigate through the current phase of your life, each opportunity to do what is RIGHT also offers the possibility of doing what is WRONG. So, I’m praying you realize that we saw our mandate as teachers, mentors, and families to help you learn to highly value what is RIGHT. And, when less than ideal choices are made (either by you or those around you), that you learn the character-building lessons found there.
We admit that ours is a very big task. Big because it involves so many variables like personalities, backgrounds etc. And, big because it’s never over! The schooling here on Habana may stop for you, but the life-need to keep on learning and maturing’is, in a word, relentless!
So, like us back here on campus, I urge you to get and stay committed to the right approach to life in the here and now. Because, after all’ you can’t predict the future, just prepare for it. A good starting point may be the realization that God is not just concerned about what happens TO you as a person’ He’s intensely focused on what happens IN you as a person. Here at Cambridge, we are too! So (and here’s a flash-back from your days in Bible class)’ BE CAREFUL, DO WHAT IS RIGHT’NOW GET OUT ‘get out there and live for Jesus. And He’ll be there beside you each step of the way.
“‘We ask God to give you a complete understanding of what he wants to do in your lives, and we ask him to make you wise with spiritual wisdom. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and you will continually do good, kind things for others. All the while, you will learn to know God better and better.”
– Colossians 1:9-10 (New Living Translation)
