Recommendation Season

There are many ways to describe time. For convenience’s sake we use numbers most often, but for much of human history we have used qualitative terms like “harvest” or “fall” to describe the season when the leaves carpet the ground. For adults involved in the education of teenagers (or really any formal interactions with young people), this time of year is also known as recommendation season.

I have written hundreds of letters of recommendation to support young people as they seek entry into college and employment. As a High School Teacher and Parish Youth Minister, writing these letters is an important responsibility as well as a privilege. It is also a lot of work, and I try to be as specific as possible, reinforcing praise with concrete examples. I’ve experimented with artificial intelligence apps to see how some snippets of information could be turned into five paragraphs of glowing accolades and, while the grammar is better than mine, the results are so generic and inauthentic that they are practically useless.

Thankfully, I have never been asked to write a letter for someone that I couldn’t say positive things about. I often write about the person’s determination and hard work, empathy and willingness to help others. I inform each academic institution that they will be welcoming an important human asset if they accept this student, and I mean what I say.

This had me thinking, I wonder how my recommendation would be amended if one of our young people asked me to write a reference letter for the Kingdom of God?  As we reflect on the lives of the young people in our families and communities, aren’t we always wanting to refer them to Heaven? This letter of reference wouldn’t start with “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam;” indeed, it would be less of a letter and more of a prayer. Also, it would be a little more extensive than academic, social and athletic achievements. My wife and I are blessed with four adult children who have full lives. If I were to write a recommendation for their admittance into God’s reign, it would be like the one I would write for myself. I wouldn’t skip the accomplishments, but I would focus a lot more on the shortcomings and honestly rely on the merciful Judge, rather than admissions administrators who know nothing about us beyond what is written on the page.

The truth is I have never written a recommendation letter for the Kingdom of God. It’s not expected and more importantly, I’m not qualified. There is a qualified Judge, however; it’s Jesus. I believe Jesus’ decision-making would not be based solely on the anecdotes and accolades that comprise most of the recommendations received by college admissions staff. Rather, the character reference would be much more complete and complex. As we, approach nature’s tomb-like season, we would do well to consider two things:  the potential contents of our own recommendation letter for the Kingdom of God and the merciful Judge who gave up everything to make our admission possible.