Graduation is a rite of passage that signals the completion of one set of goals as we begin another. It also signals the beginning of a journey toward personal maturity and chronological majority. The diploma is one of the big three of high school achievement. Depending on who we ask, it is in competition for first place with a driver’s license, and a cell phone ranks pretty high.
It is only a sheepskin with a name on it, but represents a level of accomplishment that has been pursued for 18 years. It marks a proud moment for both the recipient and for the family supporting a graduate standing in the shadows.
When an individual joins the United States Air Force he/she learns the basics of navigation through rigorous training and study in a boot camp format. Those who will fly airplanes go even further. They learn the basics of air navigation in a simulator. They learn how to take orders from the tower. They also learn how to take off and land. When they have learned these essentials then they are given their wings.
That process is similar to what each graduate is doing. Completion of high school is similar to completing basic training, instead of 13 to 15 weeks, it has been 18 years. Just as new military recruits complete basic training with a ceremony, but must continue their training to get their wings, so must every graduate.
In a similar way, believers who walk the walk of faith during life, earn their wings when this life is over.