
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, July 29, 1993                   TAG: 9307290473
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

GOD'S WILL AND THE GRADUATE

I WOULD like to address Thomas Bastress' July 14 letter to the editor, (School Prayers Mere Symbolism?).

I am one of those prayer-hungry students he referred to. As valedictorian of my senior class at William Fleming, I had the opportunity to speak at graduation. I chose to include a prayer in my speech because I felt led by God to do so. It was not intended to be symbolic or bring attention to me, but instead to acknowledge, praise, and thank God for all he has done in my life. It would have been wrong for me to reach such an achievement without acknowledging the God who made it all possible.

Those who don't believe can not understand the importance of God's will to a believer. To seek and fulfill his will is our highst priority. REBEKAH J. TURNER ROANOKE

by CNB