In this convocation address on Book of Ezekiel 47, graduates are invited to “wade even deeper” into the life of God, pictured as a life-giving river. Tracing this image through Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit, the message calls for deeper spiritual formation, engagement with Scripture, and participation in God’s mission in the world.

In this lecture, Gordon T. Smith explores what it means to cultivate resilient hope in a world marked by anxiety, suffering, and uncertainty. Rejecting both toxic positivity and despair, he reflects on hope as an essential Christian practice—one that sustains individuals and equips communities to encourage others with wisdom, honesty, and courage.