Senior sermon

Good morning. My name is Brian Stelter, and I am -- for a few more days -- a senior at Damascus High School.

I have witnessed God's love at many moments and instances in the past years. I believe these times will help me to become a witness to Christ in college and beyond. I believe that the challenges I and other graduating seniors faced during our years of school will help us become stronger witnesses to Christ in the future.

Sometimes church itself challenged me. I wasn't always enthusiastic about attending Confirmation meetings on Monday evenings. My mom can attest to that. But as the sessions progressed, I opened up to the scriptures and lessons more and more. By the end of the two years, I was discussing the issues raised at Confirmation with my mom and exploring my own beliefs in more depth.

The behaviors and apathy of other teenagers was another challenge to faith. Many students in the Damascus High School class of 450 do not attend church or know the bible. Hearing expletives is common in the hallways. Hearing stories of sex and drugs happens too often, as well. For some students, it's "cool" to disparage God.

But then again, as the bumper sticker on one Damascus teacher's car says, as long as there are tests, there will be prayer in school. What I realized during my four years of high school is how many students DO have a strong belief in Christ. A couple of friends, in particular, challenged me to discover my own faith and welcome God into my life. I can recall long conversations over pasta at a resaurant and over the phone one night. I witnessed how strong God's love was through one particular individual, and I hoped to be as faithful and caring and loving as she is. In this instance, as is the case with many things in teenagers' lives, friends are a key element of faith in Christ.

Perhaps the most memorable challenge to my faith came during my sophomore year. The death of my father left me wondering why a fair and loving God would leave me without a dad. But I witnessed God's love through the friends and family who checked in on me; the many people who filled this church for the funeral; and the comfort of knowing he was in a better place.

I learned two valuable, life-long lessons through this experience: One, that life is incredibly precious, and that I should live every day to its fullest. The second came in the form of a quote from my mom. "God will only give you what you can handle," she told me. She and I both found solace in those words.

I have countless memories from this building and these people. Sunday school classes, Vacation Bible School, choir practice, church retreats, songs from worship that still get stuck in my head from time to time.

I will carry with me to college the many memories I have, and the important lessons I have learned from the challenges of my first 17 years. They will enable me and empower me to act as a true witness to Christ as I achieve my goals, live every day to its fullest, and share the love of Christ with everyone I meet.