Reunion Ponderings

Going to the Wisconsin Dells brought back memories of graduating from high school and following my friend Sondra's idea to vacation there together. It hit me when I saw a sign for the "Ho-Chunk" casino and remembering her saying it over and over again just to hear "Ho-Chunk" and make me laugh. My best memory of high school is her and I dancing in the summer rain on Minnesota Street (which makes me think it's time to do it again with my family)!

(around graduation, brown lip liner w/ spice lipstick - yikes!)

This month will be my 15-year high school reunion. I've considered digging out scrapbooks and books to pass along to a few who may find them interesting. But as I ponder the gathering, I've come to draw a few conclusions about the appeal of it, and finding the respective quality of God that connects it for me. See what you think...

Attending a reunion with people who know your history, hearing the present makes them more fully aware of your being.  I see desire in wanting that story to have a "happy ending" rooted in the knowledge of what's behind, and having an awareness of gifting coming into fruition (if things are going well).  I also saw this quality played out in Tom Cruise's character in the new movie "Knight & Day" because of his investigative experiences and (un-human) awareness of the future. As he provided flawless protection to his lady counterpart, I saw how it's really a quality trait only God has, but how we are shown to seek it out in others, sometimes deceptively if we don't understand it's only in God's being.

With these verses, consider how God is the source of this joy first and foremost.


You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. Psalm 139:2-5  


For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 


Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Psalm 103:22 


Now, I do have another type of reunion coming up - family celebrating the life of my grandmother's (now deceased) sister's 100th birthday.  It strikes me how much of her history is lost as friends and family pass away. As I see people getting older, I hope they know the One who knows the full story.  I hope they have Christ as their best friend through relational loss. For myself, I see how Jesus authored my faith and is perfecting it.  I am a pen in His hand, but I'm a pen that's alive -- so I need to be cooperative.  The only time things get messy is when I'm trying to write my own script. I slow down the process of His perfecting by not allowing it.  But I think more and more, I'm seeing how the cooperation results in peace of heart that much sooner!  My way needs to be aligned with God's way for me to really be joyful.  So, consider this verse and how you can fix your eyes on Jesus more fully.  As I think back to reunions, sometimes there's pain that still needs to be addressed to be healed.  God really cares about everyday -- the ones in the past, the ones in the future...and He helps us to examine the areas that need to be fixed before faith becomes sight.


Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 2 Peter 1:5-10 

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