Last weekend was a wonderful time with family and friends celebrating Mitch’s graduation from ACU. As I write this, he is on his way to Boston for a 5-week internship with Boston Now newspaper. He’ll live with his brother and sis-in-law, Steve and Chrissy, while there. After that, Mitch returns to Abilene to work and make music with his band, Homer Hiccolm and the Rocketboys.
Mitch hasn’t had his education handed to him on a platter. He changed majors once, worked every semester except when he went to Oxford, England, played music just about every weekend with the band, and still managed to graduate on time with very good grades. And did I mention that he’s a really nice guy?
I had the honor to be his selection to “hood” him during the ceremony. I got to sit right behind him throughout the event and place a cape-like cloth bearing the colors of his particular college (Arts and Sciences) over his head.
The ceremony was a beautiful blend of worship, encouraging speeches, awards and other presentations. A period of worship including congregational singing opened the ceremony. The proud father next to me obviously had never heard 3,000 people singing four-part harmony a capella. After we had sung “Soldiers of Christ Arise,” he leaned over to me and said, “We sound damn good, don’t we?” I had to dang well agree.
God is good. And graduations, along with weddings and the like, provide glimpses of his providence and goodness. To me, watching your children make significant achievements in life, especially those that in some way contribute to the good of the earth, has to be one of life’s great joys.
Congratulations, Mitch!
————- Check out the photo of Mitch at www.harvestboston.net (5/15/07)
Kevin C said
Congrats Mitch! You have a good kid there. It’s so great so hear you talk about his life and achievements.
Gloria said
I clicked on the link to see the picture of Mitch. Glad to see Steve’s explanation of his “chops”; I had already thought, well, I guess he looks like this for his band!
Couldn’t stop reading Steven’s blog! So much to think about! I seem to barely make it through each day’s busy ness and like to avoid absorbing ways of thinking foreign to my usual.
As we are preparing to once again move “away from the country” and “back to the city” there are neighbors waiting who might need our help in facing every day life. (my lack of faith made me go back and add the word “might”).
angie said
Congratulations, Mitch! I love the way ACU has the hooding ceremony. It’s a good time to choose someone special in your life to “hood” you. I’m glad you had some family time. Hope all is well with y’all. It was good to see you the other day.