Sine Die

I set aside the bill that had just been passed in mock legislature and was preparing to read the next one when I suddenly noticed Jennifer's hand was in the air.
"I recognize Representative Sullivan," Vincent said, pointing at her with his gavel.
"I move we adjourn Sine Die."
Chris' voice called from the back, "Second!"
"Hearing a second and no objection," Vincent said, "We will now adjourn Sine Die."
And the gavel fell.

Sine Die is Latin for "The end of the end." In political speak, it signals the end of the entire session, rather than just adjourning for the day.

For a TeenPacter, the words "Sine Die" beckon a sad feeling, because it means that the TeenPact week is over. Sine Die for the Oregon class holds particular significance because Oregon is the last class, thus the Oregon Sine Die signals the end of the TeenPact four-day season.

And, for many of the staff last week, this Sine Die meant the end of some TeenPact careers.

Often, in life, when something that has been important to us for a time-- TeenPact, debate, highschool, a big production-- ends, it feels like the end of the end. As if, by removing this seemingly huge part of our lives, we will make our lives collapse around our ears. The end of this week felt that way to me. That this "Sine Die" was an ending.

What I've learned, though, is that the end of these activities are not the end of the end, because these activities were never meant to be an end in and of themselves. They are a launching board into something bigger and better. Yes, it is sad when these chapters close. But these endings are not just endings... they are beginnings as well.

For us as Christians, even death isn't a "Sine Die". It is also just a beginning.

We need not fear endings. Endings are God's way of moving us into new and exciting chapters of our lives. Seasons come and go, but God is the ultimate goal, and He never ends.

For us, there will never be a Sine Die.

~Rachel