From Here To There

“From Here to There”

Trusting God with what’s Next

Greg Culpen  ​​ ​​​​ May 17, 2026

(Graduate Service)

The Man Who Lived in Yesterday  ​​ ​​​​ (LINDA- Picture of railroad)

Every morning, Samuel walked the same path to the old train station, though no trains had stopped there in twenty years. The platform was cracked, weeds curling through the wood, but he would sit on the same bench, staring down the tracks as if expecting someone to arrive.

Once, long ago, she had left from this very spot. Clara, with her green scarf and a suitcase too small for all the dreams she carried. She had promised to write. She never did.

Samuel had built his life around that moment—around the idea that if he stayed, she might return. He turned down jobs in other towns, ignored invitations to travel, and let friendships fade. The world moved forward, but he remained on that bench, guarding the ghost of a goodbye.

In his mind, the past was a perfect photograph: the steam from the train, the way her hair caught the light, the last smile she gave him. He replayed it endlessly, polishing it until it gleamed brighter than any uncertain future.

One autumn afternoon, a young woman stopped to ask him for directions. She glanced at the empty tracks and said, “You know, they’re building a new road here. No trains will ever come again.”

Samuel nodded politely, but when she left, he stayed. The sun dipped low, shadows stretching long, and he realized he could no longer remember the sound of Clara’s voice—only the shape of her leaving.

And still, he waited, because moving forward meant letting go, and he had long ago chosen the comfort of yesterday over the risk of tomorrow.

As we hear in this illustration, Samuel can easily be a representation of us. Can you see yourself in what I just read. Samuel’s anticipation of what is to come with his connection to Clara seems normal but the fear of losing something he had prevents him from moving forward. Have you experienced that before? We, I’m sure for many adults, sometimes in our lives we have opted not to move forward whether it be out of fear or because of relationships. We have chosen an easy path out of comfort for what is or what was. Students….you have a new path before you that will come with limits, fears and challenges. It may also include growth, perspective and even rewards but THAT is up to you. Are you willing to move forward and not remain in the past. Do you seek the bright future that God has already planned and set before you?

Let’s examine that perspective today!

Let’s pray

When you look at people through history and see what they overcame or moved on from, we can gain some perspective on how we move forward.

(Linda- Picture)  ​​ ​​​​ Akio Morita  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ 
Called his first company, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corp, which came out with a rice cooker that burnt rice and ended up selling poorly.

Morita wanted to develop quality innovative companies and focused on a pocketsize radio. The best he could develop was just a bit too large for a typical pocket, so he had his salesmen wear shirts with oversized pockets so the radio would fit. Morita also foresaw the importance of branding and changed the name of his company to Sony.

(Linda- Picture)  ​​ ​​​​ Thomas Edison
His grade school teachers said he was “Too stupid to learn anything.” Yet he helped develop many inventions that ushered in the modern age, including the motion picture camera, the phonograph and a practical light bulb. Edison was also an extraordinary businessman who was an early advocate of mass production and teamwork in the process of innovation, with over 1,000 US patents.

(Linda- Picture)  ​​ ​​​​ Theodor Seuss Giesel
His first book “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street” was rejected by 27 publishers. According to Geisel, he was walking home and thinking of burning the manuscript, when he ran into an old friend and classmate who helped him find a publisher. He went on to sell 600 million books under the name we know as Dr. Seuss!

(Linda- Picture)  ​​ ​​​​ Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln had his share of setbacks including failing in business, failing to get into law school, suffered from depression, being defeated for nomination to Congress and being defeated for nomination for Vice President. He continually kept moving forward and was elected President in 1860.

(Linda- Picture)  ​​ ​​​​ Oprah Winfrey 
Born in economically troubled neighborhood and raised by a single teenage mom, Oprah experienced considerable hardship, including being physically abused as a teenager. Winfrey is a media proprietor, talk show host, actress and philanthropist. Her net worth is $3 Billion.

These people represent those who didn’t allow themselves to be hindered or stopped by struggle. They took their situation and made something of it. Whether they faced poverty, rejection or were not given the right opportunities, they chose to see a future. They chose not to look behind at what was or for what they had gone through. These are just a few, of many stories that help us see what can be.

In a change of direction…..what does the bible show us about looking back instead of moving forward?

We just read in Genesis 19, not too long ago, about Lots wife. (LINDA- Picture of Lot’s wife) As the story goes…God has planned to destroy Sodom & Gomorrah with fire and brimstone. Lot has been instructed to flee and don’t look back. While escaping the destruction, Lot’s wife turns to look back, not as a casual look but a longing for what she is leaving behind. For her it was comfort for what she had and represented a separated heart which resulted in her being turned into a pillar of salt. She was made an example of AND that her rebellion of God’s divine plan for them had consequences for that disobedience.

The lesson we learn in this also points us to Jesus’ later warning in Luke 17:32 to “remember Lot’s wife” as a caution about being too attached to the world. Students… the world wants to offer you everything, but it may come at a price that you weren’t ready for.

The Israelites are another group that longed for the past..

In the book of Exodus, we find the story of Gods love for his people and how Moses would lead them. We start here.

(Linda- Picture of Israelites)  ​​ ​​ ​​​​ Exodus 2:23-25

During that long period, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned in their slavery and cried out, and their cry for help because of their slavery went up to God. God heard their groaning and he remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac and with Jacob. So God looked on the Israelites and was concerned about them.

And God would call and instruct Moses to lead them out of Egypt…in Exodus 3

**The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey…. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

The Israelites had been enslaved for over 400 years and were about to set out on a journey, but their positive thoughts would fade quickly. After only a short time in the desert, they were already complaining to the point of wishing they were dead! As the Israelites continued to move toward the Promised Land, they kept looking back to Egypt, wishing they had never left. The Israelites knew what Egypt had to offer them. They knew that if they went back to Egypt, they would once again be enslaved, but at least that was familiar, predictable, and even strangely comfortable in comparison to the unknown they were facing in the desert. The Israelites had God with them day and night, yet they didn’t see Him for the Rescuer that He is. And so they looked back to Egypt, showing that their hearts were really still there.

Speak Openly about fear of moving forward.. Leap of Faith

What does it mean to put on the full armor of God? Ephesians 6:10-20 explains this. (LINDA- Picture)

The armor represents the defense we must take in our spiritual lives. This is a covering from our head to our feet that is like a protective shield against the powers of evil that wish to do us harm…but what does that look like??

Verse 14 says…#1- “The belt of Truth buckled around your waist”. Why a belt? Roman soldiers wore a belt, and this is where they would store their weapon-without that belt they could carry the weapon. Paul would associate the belt of a soldier to the truth of God.

2 Timothy 3:16 says…”All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” If our beliefs are not rooted in God’s word, we cannot expect to fight battles for Christ. As a belt is worn tightly & close to the body, we should hold God’s truth tightly to us to be able to know what is true & untrue.

The next piece that is mentioned is #2 “The Breastplate of Righteousness” This piece may be the most important for a soldier. It would serve as protection of the heart, lungs and other organs necessary to life. Without this piece of armor, it would and could result in instant death. Paul explains how if we do not protect ourselves with righteousness we will fall into sin. If we are knowledgeable about God’s word, we will know how to live a righteous life. When troubles come our way we will be able to make better decisions based on His word.

​​ #3…”Shoes of the gospel of Peace” …..what are shoes of the gospel of peace? Shoes help protect our feet from rough ground. Keep us from injuring them and getting cuts. In this thought, God has called us to tell His story to the world. Having shoes fitted with the gospel of peace allows us to do that successfully as we boldly share the name of the Lord.

Next Paul talks about “The Shield of Faith” Hebrews 11:1 says… “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and not assurance about what we do not see.” Our faith is believing in God, that He created the world and sent His son to die for our sins so we might have eternal life. The shield was used to protect against attacks and even used to knock people over in defense. This shield of faith can be used in the same manner, to guard ourselves against and push away the evil that will surely come from Satan, and our faith that God will be that shield against all attacks from him. We also don’t have to fear because God said, “do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous hand.”

Paul finishes out our protection with “The Helmet of Salvation” and “The Sword of the Spirit.”

First…. What is Salvation? Jesus died for us so we could have eternal life, and through repentance of our sins and accepting Him as our savior, we can receive that gift for believing in that sacrifice and His forgiveness. We wear the Helmet of Salvation to avoid sinful thoughts and understand what is good and true. Without this helmet to guard us we will become susceptible to the thoughts planted in us, that are meant to harm our walk with Christ.

The Sword of the Spirit sounds pretty cool huh?? How many of you played sword fights when you where little?

Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Through Gods word we can distinguish between right & wrong. The Sword of the Spirit represents the Word of God & is a dual threat weapon as it can be a weapon for defense as well as offense. God’s word can protect us from the enemies lies but can also counter against attacks. This is our opportunity to use God’s infallible word as a way point right back towards Him.

Romans 8:31 reminds us “What, then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us…..say this with me, THEN WHO CAN BE AGAINST US??

At this time, I’d like to recognize our 2026 Graduates. As I call your name, please come forward onto the platform and stay until everyone has been recognized.

Finley Bus-E-Air

Sadie E. Cole

Kaden Grant

Caden Griffin

Lily Losh

Final prayer over students….then last song!!