An original copy of my university degree is required for my residency visa in the UAE. There is no room for substitutions, copies, or pictures. Given the experience of going through this on more than one occasion, it would be reasonable to assume that I know precisely where I keep my diploma. The easy answer is somewhere safe. I know I stored the certificate in its original case. Consequently, the cover is easy to imagine. However, this did little to jog my memory. It was only by accident that the somewhere safe and easy-to-forget location revealed itself and the diploma reappeared.
As I stood holding what was lost but now found, I reflected on the memories of the years building up to graduation. It was a coming of age filled with the angst and dramas common to many. It was also a time when I rediscovered the critical role hard work, and the stress that comes with it plays out in life. As I held the diploma in my hand, I found myself giving credit to the University for creating the opportunity as well as to myself for earning the result.
My reflection drifted to other areas where I thought I could take credit. The anchoring themes were hard work, courage, perseverance, and enduring through to the end. Several achievements are individually based. Far more came as the result of collaboration, teamwork, and the hard work of others. In this feel-good moment, there was a “however”. However, how much credit do I deserve for the results of compassion, mercy, and caring in my life?
An old Q&A came back as one I could not ignore. “If Abraham, by what he did for God, got God to approve him, he could certainly have taken credit for it. But the story we’re given is a God-story, not an Abraham-story.” (Romans 4.2)
I hold my diploma and saw parental love and support, mentors who stood by even when I needed them, and unconditional friends. The memories were never just about me. The story is divine and so much more.
