I attended my first college reunion last weekend. It was my 50th. There have been plenty of other opportunities to go back over the years that never interested me, but this one got my attention. Fifty was a good round number, and I figured, in terms of all of the possible reunions, it might be the one year to go. And when I found out that three of my best friends from our class were going, I couldn’t resist. What I found out I didn’t expect.
First, I found out that everyone appeared to be much older than me. Of course this was not true since we were all the same age. It just meant we had a head start on our own rationalizations. And you can be sure that everyone felt this same way — that they were the youngest-looking. We didn’t get the benefit of watching everyone else age. With everyone else, it was the immediate shock of seeing them now, when the last image of them in our minds was what they looked like 50 years ago. That’s a stark reality right there.
Second, they were all accomplished. There were authors, pastors, missionaries, social workers, veterinarians, professors, lawyers, doctors, nurses, judges, PhDs, CEOs, business owners, and at least one university president. The end result of this realization was to be very humbled, and to be inspired. I have yet to accomplish my best work. Not done yet; not even close.
Third, they all love the Lord and are passionate about their faith, even more so than when we were in college. We prayed. We sang hymns. (I can’t even remember the last time I sang a hymn.) Often you would see two, three or four of them huddled together praying, and no one told them to.
Fourth, one of the most meaningful moments was also the most sobering. It was a video tribute to the 25 members of our class who had passed away since we graduated. The inevitable reality that the number of people in that room would be diminishing with subsequent reunions was impossible to miss, further underlining the need and the desire to make these last years count.
Our class favorite:
May the mind of Christ my Savior
Kate B, Wilkinson (1859 – 1928)
May the mind of Christ my Savior
Live in me from day to day,
By His love and pow’r controlling
All I do and say.
May the Word of Christ dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His pow’r.
May the peace of Christ my Savior
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.
May the love of Jesus fill me,
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self abasing,
This is victory.
May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.
May His beauty rest upon me
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.
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