Rites of May: The Art of Walking Away

“Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, and know when to walk away,” the great Kenny Rogers sang in his iconic song “The Gambler”.

It’s some solid life advice, even if I, a stubborn 22-year old, don’t really know when to hold ’em or fold ’em. But I think I do know when to walk away. Or at least I am learning.

The entire lyric has been stuck in my head for the past three weeks. Specifically, the last line, “know when to walk away”, has been hitting close to home as I prepare to graduate.

Last year, as I wrapped up my third year at Benedictine, I grew sad that I only had one more year at this great college. So too was I sad at the beginning of the year, and I thought that come April, I would be devastated as I soaked up my last few weeks.

While there’s been some sadness as I prepare to say goodbye to friends and leave this vibrant community behind, overall, I am at peace and know that it’s time to walk away. One of the greatest temptations for me, and others is to stick with some good past its expiration date, clinging onto the good memories, because it is comfortable, fun, easy.

But that’s not the Christian call, we are not called to stay put, to remain comfortable, we are called by Christ to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,” (Matthew 28:19). That call requires us to walk away from the lives we have known, from the comfort of our home, to say, not goodbye, but see you later to our friends, knowing that they too are on their own mission.

We have to thank God for this period of our lives, the memories made, the friends met, the experiences had, and to thank Him for wherever He will lead us next.

Benedictine College has served me well, it has formed me, shaped me, introduced me to lifelong friends. I’ve dived deeper into my relationship with Christ at this college, learned about my faith and the human person, and so much more happened.

But this place is not the end, it’s simply the beginning of some greater adventure and that’s an exciting reality. So yes, come May 16, will there be tears shed? Maybe, probably, most likely. Goodbyes are hard, but they are necessary. And until then, I will savor moments with friends — drinking beer, sharing a meal, talking about life.

But come May 16, I will be at peace with walking away, knowing that it is time to say goodbye. And I’m ready for that hike, the journey onto the next adventure because this place has prepared me so well. So while I might be walking away from something great, I am walking toward something even greater.

By Jack Figge