The photo on the left is from the first time we went to visit our son in college. September 21, 2018. The photo on the right is from this past weekend when we went to be with him at his Capstone Project... November 5, 2021. In about a month, he will be done with his campus experience, leaving only his internship to fulfill his graduation requirements from the University of North Alabama. For his project, he chose to put together a concert style worship event. The size and scope of the project required recruiting others to help staff the event and because of all that was involved, he was allowed to complete his project with another student in the program... something that normally doesn't get approved. Daniel's responsibilities were to run the business side of the project (think promotions... fundraising... contracts and staffing) while his compadre's responsibilities were on the technology side (think lights... cameras... sound and stage). It was a great event and I am looking forward to hearing the feedback from his program directors as well as getting the "thumbs up'' that he is good to go with graduation! But more than that, I am hanging out on the thought of a capstone: a crowning achievement or pinnacle of success (as defined by Merriam Webster).
Even though I attended what is often referred to as "The Capstone" (aka the University of Alabama for my friends who live in other places), I never really thought of what a capstone was meant to represent, until now. I know what a cornerstone is... a starting point and place of reference around which you should build the rest of a building. The capstone, however, is meant to "seal the deal" as a decorative or monumental stone signifying the completion of the structure. In Peter's letters to a suffering church in Rome, he talks about Christ as the chief cornerstone. He also talks about living stones... the individuals who make up the body of Christ... each serving a specific purpose, yet not one stone being more significant than the other. But I can't find any mention of a capstone by the one who, himself, was nicknamed "The Rock" (Matthew 16:18). In fact, I couldn't find any reference to a capstone anywhere in scripture. I Googled it! I think... maybe... here's why...
If there is a capstone in scripture, I think it would be Christ's crucifixion... the moment when He declared, "tetelestai", or... "it is finished". For some people, I definitely think that was the capstone moment when they breathed a sigh of completion (and relief) that the One who was turning their religious world upside down had finally breathed His last breath. But, if anything, that moment only served to set Him up for the next moment of significance... His resurrection. And His resurrection, the fact that He overcame death and the grave, is the cornerstone of a foundation of faith on which we are meant to build our lives. Our true capstone won't be placed until we are with Him in heaven. Every stone we lay until that moment, should only point to Him. So...
Whatever you consider your capstone... your crowning achievement... remember it is meant to be a moment in time more than a mantle on which to set your trophies. The capstone of one season of your life should serve as the cornerstone for the next. And every stone you lay in-between should be on a foundation that cannot be shaken and should serve to point a dying world to Him.
"Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, 'Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.'" - 1 Peter 2:6
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