Dear God, as usual, I need your help. I not only need your help. I want your help. That’s different and, in this case, better. I’ve been asked to give a small talk at the graduation ceremony tomorrow night for the Christian Men’s Life Skills class I’ve been helping with. I’m incredibly honored because some great guys have given these talks in the past three graduations I’ve been to, including one I really admire here in my town. And this talk will be different because I’ll be talking not only to these men as a group of 20 for the last time, but their families will be there too. Keeping in mind that all but one of these men participated in this class because of a felony they were dealing with, I’m sure their families would have a story to tell about each of them too. So what do I say to a group like this? This is where I want your help. Holy Spirit, what would the Father have me say to them?

When I thought about this last night, it made me think about a marketing tool someone taught me to use 30 years ago. Start out by asking four questions:

• Who am I talking to?
• What do they think?
• What do I want them to think?
• How do I get them to think that?

So what are the answers to those questions? Honestly, I don’t know them all. One idea I have is to call one of the leaders of the class who was a student about three or four years ago because of legal problems he himself had. What does he think the guys in the class and their families need to hear? I have my ideas, but I’ve never been in their situation–thankfully.

The one thing I’ve thought of as I’ve been thinking about this is the idea of “making the pain count.” What the guys and their families have been through was too painful to let it be wasted. Life is full of pain. I’m going to a funeral this weekend of a young woman in her 30s who died tragically last weekend. Yesterday, I found myself praying for her friends and family, asking that if this pain is to be experienced, don’t let it be wasted. Make it count. And that’s what I’m thinking about for these guys and their families. They have an opportunity to make this count. To use it to change their lives.

Holy Spirit, point me to a biblical character I can use tomorrow night who made a huge mistake but he made it count. Right now, I’m thinking of Peter and how he denied Jesus, was ashamed, but then he made the pain count. He used that humility to lead the early church. To break out of the Jewish paradigm and take Jesus to Gentiles. For the Catholic church, he was the first pope. But whatever I might be thinking now, shape me over the next 36 hours. Speak to me. Guide me. I take this honor very seriously. I want to make this opportunity count for everyone there.

I pray all of this in Jesus and with the Holy Spirit,

Amen