Almost!

“Almost.” That is the line most teachers are saying right now. Summer vacation is just around the corner. They are already out of school in much of the United States. But our dedicated teachers are not the only ones saying this word. For the students graduating from grade eight, they will be saying, “It’s almost over.” Moving from grade eight to grade nine is quite the transition. Going from a teacher generated learning to a student initiated education is a major step. For some it will mean moving to another school in another community. New people, new teachers new everything. And again they will say, “Almost . . . Not long until we feel at home.” To think, I have been here in Drumbo long enough to see those JK students graduating this year from grade eight and to know the grade eight students of that first year, are have now graduated universities. How time flies.
Back to “Almost.” You see, repeating this word can be a relief in two ways. One is finishing something. The other is becoming part of something. This happens to all of us. Not only does it happen when we are children and we finish ten years of education (grade eight) but it continues all our lives. By the way, what’s this about some schools having elaborate graduation ceremonies out of kindergarten? When I was a kid . . . sorry, ‘almost’ got away again.
Mothers’ say these words when they are seven months pregnant. Parents say it when the children disappear into the school door for the first time. They say it again when the bus takes them to high school and the van to university. As workers we say it after a day or weeks work. I say it every week when the sermon idea of five days ago it delivered and it starts all over again.
Each of these moments, these “It’s done.” moments are to be celebrated. They are transition points on our way to being a productive member of society and even beyond. They are also the start of another almost.
Jesus had them. They started in a stable, moved to school at the synagogue and even into his step father’s carpentry shop. There were more moments when he did what his mother asked at the wedding and went on with the teaching of His disciples. Jesus had many moments when he would say, “It won’t be long.” And then one day while hanging between heaven and hell, He said the words that have echoed through the centuries, “It is finished.” At that moment, Jesus took away our sin, and the price for your sin and mine was paid in full. All it took on our part was to ask Him to forgive. There are a number of stories in our bible that tell of this very moment when someone is almost there. It happened with Pilate and it happened with the rich young ruler. These stories drift around in my head when I think of P. Bliss hymn of 1871.
“Almost persuaded” now to believe; “Almost persuaded” Christ to receive;
Seems now some soul to say, “Go, Spirit, go Thy way,
Some more convenient day On Thee I’ll call.”

“Almost persuaded,” come, come today; “Almost persuaded,” turn not away;
Jesus invites you here, Angels are lingering near
Prayers rise from hearts so dear; O wanderer, come!

“Almost persuaded,” harvest is past! “Almost persuaded,” doom comes at last!
“Almost” cannot avail; “Almost” is but to fail!
Sad, sad, that bitter wail — “Almost,” but lost!