y any etymological measure， a commencement is a be<br >ginning， not an end. We tend to think of Commencement<br >Day and commencement ceremonies as a termination， a<br >conclusion， a celebration of past effort wrapped up in a<br >glorious moment of achievement. But to commence means to<br >begin， to get going， to be on your way.<br > This action perspective， this future focus can be unset-<br >tling， anxiety-laden. It is not surprising that a graduating<br >class finds delight in c~lebrating the recent past and prefers<br >to postpone the personal and private breakaway into an un-<br >known future. To commence， however， means to begin. It is<br >time now to celebrate your new beginning. It is time to face<br >up to the demands of commencing.<br > But before commencing， let us pray: "Lord， make me<br >know your ways. Lord， teach me your paths." That prayerful<br >plea of the psalmist (Ps 25) is as relevant on the lips of to-<br >day s commencer as it was when first uttered centuries be-<br >fore Christ. If you are inclined to start out without a prayer，<br >you will probably end up without a prayer--without achiev-<br >ing the special goal God intends for you. If the centuries have<br >taught the human community anything， the perennial lesson<br >is contained in this simple sentence in the same 25th Psalm:<br >"If anyone fears the Lord， he will show him the path he<br >should choose." Fear， in the sense of reverence and respect<br >for the Lord who loves you and holds your destiny in his<br >hands， is a worthy graduation gift. He will show you the<br >path you should choose.<br > So， commencing involves choosing. And， in the face of<br > choice， the anxiety level rises just a bit higher. "I a stranger<br ><br >