Winter Convocation 2004

Daniel Ragheb '05

Hello, my name is Daniel Ragheb, and to be entirely honest I am not quite sure why I am up here in front of you. By now it would seem fair to assume that in one way or another we are all here trying to find what role an "obligation to serve others" plays in our own lives. I was asked to, within a matter of two minutes, summarize something that has consumed the better part of my conscious life up until this point. Essentially I have little time to explain how my developing relationship with God affects my daily life, and as a result might also relate to you.

Speaking in this Chapel, sitting in class, eating in Kimball, running errands in Hogan, walking among the buildings on this campus: each of these experiences, albeit daily and even mundane to some, are truly blessings I continually value and cherish. While I would be the first to admit that leaving my family and native home in Egypt is never easy, I am also fully aware and grateful for the gifts God has granted my family in allowing me to study here. In exploring my ever-strong faith in the Lord and His will, I have come to the personal revelation that my gratitude to Him cannot solely remain in the words I whisper in prayer. Rather, the life I choose to live is one that embraces the love God has instilled in my own heart, and how I see it in all the people around me. With limitations in mind, my gratefulness translates into devoting myself to the best of my ability, to those in turn who also need help; the blessings of the Lord are everywhere in this world.

What else can I say but that I have learned to appreciate people and the need to help those around us? I see the work of God in each of us, and in a dedication to others I find myself closer in my relationship to Him. I believe God assumes a different role in each of our lives, and personally I see Him in all places, from my family and friends to complete strangers. Ultimately my drive to serve others draws from desire to be closer to our Lord, and the faith that the people we meet everyday are truly the children of God.

Thank you and God bless.