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Two Sundays ago, I found myself sitting inside the Hartford Baptist Church sanctuary, attending the 2006 Baccalaureate service.  I listened to Bruce play his trumpet, watched Brynna Jo stride down the aisle, heard Andee Whitaker sing her song, and observed another student read the gospel account of Jesus calming the stormy sea.  Then the preacher got up.  (Here is the place in my rambling discourse where I confess that I am not usually the best at listening to other preachers.  I must even confess that I often am critical of the address, style, and content of my colleagues speaking.  It was with a slight sense of cynicism and arrogance that I began to hear him speak.)  He got up and addressed not only those young graduates, but me.  He humbled me.  He spoke to me and here is what he said.

He began by reading the gospels' account of the wise man building his house upon the rock and the foolish man building his house upon the sand.  (This was fitting for me, because, as many of you know, I am building a house and overspent my budget for the foundation by $2000.)

He claimed that while our world may be teaching our young people how to make a living, we were failing to teach them how to build a life.  Wow!  That was a great idea.  I wonder how many of us are making a living, but not building a life. Hmmm.

He challenged us to make goals and work hard...all the usual graduating stuff.  Yet, he did it with style and with authentic story telling.  There were to many examples to share, and they were too good to prioritize.  Just ask me and I'll tell you a couple of his stories about tire changing, jail visiting, college living, and child rearing.

When he got through, I was humbled, yet energized.  I decided that as I am building a house here in Hartford,  want to focus on building a life for my children and wife.  I want to build on the solid Rock of Jesus and His ministry here with the great people who call themselves Christians.  I want to make goals and work hard.  I want to become a better listener and a little less full of myself.  I want to build a life that matters.

I think that I am not alone.  Tommy and Rebecca were there with me that night.  Maybe they will join me.  Maybe you will all join me in building better lives and a better Hartford.  I am going to start with me.