Last weekend I graduated from Covenant Seminary, and many people have since asked me how it feels... to which I generally respond in a way that makes them laugh - "Great relief!" I say, recalling the countless hours of Greek vocabulary words and verb tenses I had to memorize, not to mention the books I read and papers I wrote. I am also thrilled that now my evenings are usually fully spent focused on time with my wife and children!

But I wanna be more specific about the journey of completing a graduate degree, and compare it to life's journey... obviously with its share of challenges and struggles, but also joys and accomplishments, all leading to the final completion.

Actually, in many ways, this achievement, which God graced, reminded me of some marathons I had run for the aforementioned reasons. But particularly, when my dad physically joined me at mile 20 of the Chicago Marathon and ran with me for its remainder. You see, my folks had cheered for me every 5 miles or so throughout the marathon, but Dad actually ran with me for the last 6 miles. I was reminded of how in life, our Father, God, is "an ever present help in times of trouble" (Psalm 46:1).