Today, instead of sharing one of my stories, I thought I'd share a friend's story. He is getting his Master' degree and is celebrating his journey with Father God with him all along the way. Congratulations, Graham. Here is his story in his own words.
GRADUATION DAY!!!!!!!!
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. -Psalm 37:23-24 NIV
I remember when I was pressing really hard to finish my undergraduate degree, when, around the beginning, a mentor had called me into her office because she wanted to know what my plans were for the future. I remember thinking I didn't know what my plans were because there were so many things on my heart that I honestly wasn't thinking past anything other than surviving my undergraduate experience. So, I said (trying to be funny), "I don't know...live and not die?" Unamused, my mentor said, "You need to consider and pray about what next steps are available to you; it's going to be such a waste of your potential if you don't at least pursue a masters degree of some kind." .......Me? A master's degree? I began my initial transition back into college after completing the Foundry's Recovery Program thinking I was going to be a high school math teacher, but as later a job would open up for a men's counselor that I would eventually obtain, I finished my degree in Mathematics without the student teaching experience. That same mentor who challenged me in pursuit of "more" connected me with a faculty member from UAB's Counselor Education Program, in whose office I basically camped out to ask questions and to hold on to hope that I could actually get into UAB's Graduate School Counselor Education Program. Some had told me the odds were not good.
But the Lord was with me.
My undergraduate transcripts were a trainwreck from earlier on when I was foolish as a kid, although when I did finally make it to UAB (who was gracious enough to allow me to enroll after a lengthy appeals process where I basically had to spill my guts as to how I was different than when I was a kid) my grades were better. This faculty member coached me through the GRE Exam and I remember I was checking my email in a national conference in Florida where I received word that I had been accepted into the program; a door had been opened! I still have that email! Being enrolled into the program was around the time I was promoted to Director of Aftercare of the Foundry Ministries, a job whose creation was originally my idea but also a role that had never before been defined. It became quickly obvious that on top of Aftercare's program development, Foundry counseling, and leading the facility of CLCC, my graduate school experience was going to place a demand on my potential that I didn't know was possible. As usual, I dove in and began to search for ways to get further involved, which I did find through the honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi and Chi Sigma Iota. As I established a routine, a typical day, even on the weekends, was to rise by 5 am, often head to serve somewhere by 7:45 am, only to come home and crash by 8 or 9 pm. The next day always arrived too quickly.
But the Lord was with me.
This graduate program is more than just books and tests, although I've lost count of how many books I've had to read, exams I've had to take, papers I've had to write, and group projects I've had to complete along the way. Processing of case studies for ethical and legal lessons is intimidating in of itself. It calls you to explore parts of yourself that remain hidden and unattractive so that you can deeply understand by experience what it's like to undergo the depth of change the people you serve will know. Not to mention the raw and exposing process of tape reviews, the case conceptualizations and recapitulations, and the instructor behind me saying, "Again, Graham. Again." It's a program that also brings you to the level of clinical licensure, a process that is taken so seriously it's often discussed in the context of campfire horror stories. The intensity of the training is maddening, while consistently being reminded that a person who truly embraces this field will never fully arrive. And things really went nuclear when I had the honor of doing my 700 hours of clinical experience at UAB's Community Counseling Clinic. Exhaustion was close to the mark...but I don't think I have a word that can fully describe the experience. There were so many times where I questioned if it was all going to be worth it as I felt like my eyes were going to bleed as I continued to gaze into my laptop into yet another late night. But it was...every minute of it was worth it!
And the Lord was with me.
Every morning, I got up to meet the Lord in prayer and in the Word of God. I did my best to stay in intimate places of worship and I know in my heart that what has been accomplished is only true because of what God has promised in that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. I have learned to trust God in a way that I would not have known without this process. There has been darkness and valleys. There has been heartbreak and sickness. But, there has been beauty a hundredfold for each ash burned. And to think, God even led me to my marriage to Jessica through this journey, my most blessed gift yet. Now, more than ever, not only am I convinced of the awesome power of God's Word and a relationship with Jesus Christ, but also the incredible strength of the human spirit and the amazing resilience of the human heart. I see it every day in the people I get the opportunity to serve. Nothing gives glory to God like a permanently transformed life.
And the Lord will be with me even beyond this.
I just want to again thank everyone who has been part of my journey and offered me support and encouragement, especially my wife, my family, my church, the Foundry, and the UAB Community. A special thanks to the program participants of the Foundry, as my life continues to be enriched by theirs; you guys are my tribe and I will never forget that! My office walls have now accumulated numerous things, but the thing you'll immediately notice upon entering is that my Foundry Graduate Certificate stands above all others. I love Y'all! Let's get this party started!!! Have a great day, everyone!
The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand. -Psalm 37:23-24 NIV
I remember when I was pressing really hard to finish my undergraduate degree, when, around the beginning, a mentor had called me into her office because she wanted to know what my plans were for the future. I remember thinking I didn't know what my plans were because there were so many things on my heart that I honestly wasn't thinking past anything other than surviving my undergraduate experience. So, I said (trying to be funny), "I don't know...live and not die?" Unamused, my mentor said, "You need to consider and pray about what next steps are available to you; it's going to be such a waste of your potential if you don't at least pursue a masters degree of some kind." .......Me? A master's degree? I began my initial transition back into college after completing the Foundry's Recovery Program thinking I was going to be a high school math teacher, but as later a job would open up for a men's counselor that I would eventually obtain, I finished my degree in Mathematics without the student teaching experience. That same mentor who challenged me in pursuit of "more" connected me with a faculty member from UAB's Counselor Education Program, in whose office I basically camped out to ask questions and to hold on to hope that I could actually get into UAB's Graduate School Counselor Education Program. Some had told me the odds were not good.
But the Lord was with me.
My undergraduate transcripts were a trainwreck from earlier on when I was foolish as a kid, although when I did finally make it to UAB (who was gracious enough to allow me to enroll after a lengthy appeals process where I basically had to spill my guts as to how I was different than when I was a kid) my grades were better. This faculty member coached me through the GRE Exam and I remember I was checking my email in a national conference in Florida where I received word that I had been accepted into the program; a door had been opened! I still have that email! Being enrolled into the program was around the time I was promoted to Director of Aftercare of the Foundry Ministries, a job whose creation was originally my idea but also a role that had never before been defined. It became quickly obvious that on top of Aftercare's program development, Foundry counseling, and leading the facility of CLCC, my graduate school experience was going to place a demand on my potential that I didn't know was possible. As usual, I dove in and began to search for ways to get further involved, which I did find through the honor societies of Phi Kappa Phi and Chi Sigma Iota. As I established a routine, a typical day, even on the weekends, was to rise by 5 am, often head to serve somewhere by 7:45 am, only to come home and crash by 8 or 9 pm. The next day always arrived too quickly.
But the Lord was with me.
This graduate program is more than just books and tests, although I've lost count of how many books I've had to read, exams I've had to take, papers I've had to write, and group projects I've had to complete along the way. Processing of case studies for ethical and legal lessons is intimidating in of itself. It calls you to explore parts of yourself that remain hidden and unattractive so that you can deeply understand by experience what it's like to undergo the depth of change the people you serve will know. Not to mention the raw and exposing process of tape reviews, the case conceptualizations and recapitulations, and the instructor behind me saying, "Again, Graham. Again." It's a program that also brings you to the level of clinical licensure, a process that is taken so seriously it's often discussed in the context of campfire horror stories. The intensity of the training is maddening, while consistently being reminded that a person who truly embraces this field will never fully arrive. And things really went nuclear when I had the honor of doing my 700 hours of clinical experience at UAB's Community Counseling Clinic. Exhaustion was close to the mark...but I don't think I have a word that can fully describe the experience. There were so many times where I questioned if it was all going to be worth it as I felt like my eyes were going to bleed as I continued to gaze into my laptop into yet another late night. But it was...every minute of it was worth it!
And the Lord was with me.
Every morning, I got up to meet the Lord in prayer and in the Word of God. I did my best to stay in intimate places of worship and I know in my heart that what has been accomplished is only true because of what God has promised in that I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. I have learned to trust God in a way that I would not have known without this process. There has been darkness and valleys. There has been heartbreak and sickness. But, there has been beauty a hundredfold for each ash burned. And to think, God even led me to my marriage to Jessica through this journey, my most blessed gift yet. Now, more than ever, not only am I convinced of the awesome power of God's Word and a relationship with Jesus Christ, but also the incredible strength of the human spirit and the amazing resilience of the human heart. I see it every day in the people I get the opportunity to serve. Nothing gives glory to God like a permanently transformed life.
And the Lord will be with me even beyond this.
I just want to again thank everyone who has been part of my journey and offered me support and encouragement, especially my wife, my family, my church, the Foundry, and the UAB Community. A special thanks to the program participants of the Foundry, as my life continues to be enriched by theirs; you guys are my tribe and I will never forget that! My office walls have now accumulated numerous things, but the thing you'll immediately notice upon entering is that my Foundry Graduate Certificate stands above all others. I love Y'all! Let's get this party started!!! Have a great day, everyone!
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