For 2021 Graduates: Life’s Interruptions

I’d like to share a story about life’s interruptions with this year’s graduating seniors—who have lived an interrupted life. 

A few days ago, I was busy splitting firewood. To be clear, a twenty-two-ton machine does the hard part. I just maneuver wood rounds beneath the huge maul. I put on my ear-protection headset, pull the starter cord, and get to work. 


However, when I started, I didn’t notice the robin sitting on a nearby tree limb. I just kept splitting and throwing firewood over my shoulder into the adjacent woodshed. Then the robin flew in an arc just in front of me. I watched it return to the limb. I didn’t get the message until the bird did it three more times.


I stopped the machine and removed my headset. The robin was chirping excitedly. I decided to stack the wood I’d tossed in the shed. More intense chirping. Then I finally noticed her nest. It was above my head, tucked into a safe place in the shed (or so she thought). I climbed on some firewood to peek inside. Three small eggs nestled perfectly, and one frantic mama bird perched nearby.




Now what? Do I quit so mama robin can nest quietly and bring three birds into the world, or do I forge ahead and finish what I want to do, taking a chance that the robin will abandon her eggs? On a scale of life's interruptions, this is as small as those blue eggs.


But you, Seniors, faced much larger interruptions and setbacks on your way to getting your diploma. There were probably days you felt the weight of those setbacks, yet before you even received your diploma, you were asked to make plans for what’s next. Life is all about our plans, moving forward, and then getting it done.


Yes, we make our plans, just like I planned on splitting the firewood, then sometimes we are interrupted. Delays happen for a reason. 


I looked at the frantic mama robin. I looked over at the monumental pile of wood that needed to be split. Would a slight delay really matter to me when I knew it mattered everything to her? After those baby birds leave the nest, I’ll get back to my woodpile.




So, graduates, if you face some delays in your plans, take it as an opportunity to examine what’s happening around you. Sometimes delays are actually opportunities in disguise.... if you hadn’t been interrupted maybe you wouldn’t have noticed something important. A delay could mean meeting someone, taking a different job, or just slowing down long enough to look around and appreciate where you are.


You’re part of the esteemed group of Covid graduates. You’ve dealt with delays and disappointments, but you made it—and because of the delays maybe you’ve seen more than you would have in the classroom. Undoubtedly, you’ve learned coping skills, and I suspect you are even better prepared for life than I was at your age. 


P.S. One time I was hauling an arm load of college books back to my dorm, when I was delayed by a person wanting to introduce himself. Yes, he eventually became my husband and he was well worth the interruption.



Photo credits: Unsplash: Jen Theodore, Javier Allegue Barros, and Shayna Douglas

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