A Crowning Moment

Although I finished my Master's program with Crown Seminary a year ago, I wasn't able to walk in the Commencement exercises until this year. It was an evening I will never forget.

I arrived at the Curtis Hutson Building not knowing really what to expect. I had not participated in the earlier practices that they had on Sunday and earlier that day on Monday. I was able to get my robe, hat, and board and after struggling a while I figured out how to actually get them all on. I wasn't alone, as I saw several other people confused how to assemble them.

Once everyone got robed and set down, we made our way over to the Sanctuary at the Church. We stood in formation and had several photographs made and then we filed back to the Curtis Hutson Building to await the exercises.

I wish I had felt better physically but I had came down with a cold which lead to an upper respiratory infection and so I was sneezing and coughing and really feeling pretty rough. I enjoyed watching all of the younger graduates as they sat around laughing and talking. Ah, to be young again!

There were three other Master's of Ministry Extended students besides myself. We made some small talk as we were waiting for things to begin. Finally the hour came and we marched back over to the Sanctuary for the Commencement service.

It was thrilling to hear the Temple Baptist orchestra play Pomp and Circumstance and I was nearly in tears by the time I took my place among the other students. There were thousands of people there including the graduates, parents, students, friends, and other guests. Pastor Sexton opened things up and then it got underway.

I was in the last row to receive my diploma so I had the privilege of seeing all of the other graduates make their way up to the platform and receive their degrees. I was both nervous and excited as I awaited my turn and then I heard Bro. Scott Pauley call out my name; "Byron S. Chesney." Suddenly from behind me I heard a large outburst of people yelling for me. It was my family and some of my fellow church members that had came to see me graduate. I was probably grinning from ear to ear when I approached Pastor Sexton and he took my hand. He looked at me and said, "my, but you have a large crowd of people here to support you!" I just laughed and said, "yep!" He then said that he hoped the program was a blessing to me in which I replied back that it certainly was. Then before I knew it, I was walking off the stage holding my diploma and it was all over with.

It probably seems silly to write about all of this but it truly was an exciting time in my life. I worked hard to earn that degree and I wanted to receive the full experience. I still remember back before I began working on the program and thinking it would take forever, but honestly the time flew by. I would do it all over again in a heart beat.