Navy Seal’s Commencement Speech Full of Common-Sense Wisdom

May is full of graduations – for so many students, it’s a time of transition to a new era looming with possibility.

This year, the University of Texas at Austin welcomed alumnus Admiral William H. McRaven of the U.S. Navy to deliver the keynote address. He is the man who commanded the U.S. Special Operations Command responsible for organizing and carrying out the raid against Osama bin Laden.

During his speech, McRaven reflected back on the lessons he learned during his Navy Seal training. It was full of practical takeaways for the graduates – and for us.

While the lessons aren’t encased in a biblical narrative, many of the principles he harkens to are those we see in Scripture. Themes like understanding the importance of community, respecting others, and lifting up the downtrodden are all values we find embedded in our own Christian faith.

For this reason, I wanted to share the video of McRaven’s speech today, as well as link to the transcript of his address. I hope you enjoy.

And for you who have graduated this May – I pray that the Lord will guide your steps and give you a sense of divine purpose as you move forward to the next phase of your life. Congratulations!