The Blessing of Maturity

This past week I attended my 40th high school class reunion.  The attendance was not what was hoped for it still it gave to those who attended a wonderful evening of fellowship and recollection.  I for one was truly blessed and I again thank the team for the wonderful job they did.  But since that night I cannot seem to get my classmates off of my mind.  Conversations still resonate within my thinking, I see the faces of friends still as familiar to me as in the days of our youth we spent together, and some sadness felt for those who have died since graduation were all aspects of this gathering.  But why is it still actively being entertained in my contemplation?  Allow me to explore that with you.

As I mentioned this was our 40th.  We have, as was true at the last one, grown older.  And as with any community it is best understood by the conversations.  That I believe is the main reason for my continuing thinking about that night, the conversations.  The first reason was related to the content.  Once we engaged in catching up there were new topics discussed.  Some people have reached retirement and are enjoying the fruit of their labors.  Some of us talked of how retirement seems to be an impossibility and still others expressed how these years are nothing like they had anticipated.  A few of us shared the blessing of now long marriages and sadly others still held the pain of divorce(s) in their hearts.  Many have the joy of children and grandchildren which brings a whole new sense of vitality to one's life.  Some traveled from distant states and others have never left home.  It is easy to be envious in some way with both.

The one subject that came up more than ever was spirituality and faith.  This was certainly welcomed by me and I was excited to know how God had touch various classmates' lives.  I think of how great it would have been to share on that level back in high school.

The next reason for great conversations was the fact that I had matured and no longer was scared to talk to girls!  In school I was governed by a strong sense of inferiority and that others (especially girls) would not want to lower themselves to speak with me.  Oh how wrong I was.  Maturing into an older man without those inhibitions allowed me to have dialogue with classmates that I had never before talked with.  And they were an amazing blessing to me.  In their maturity whatever may have interfered with us having a conversation was also removed.  I experienced joy with my classmates and feel an indebtedness to all of them.  They were and are such a big part of my life's story and I feel no separation from them.  What a blessing!

So I have discovered another way to view aging in a positive way and that is as I age, and my friends age, there is little other than geography that separates us.  I want so much to minister to them and serve them and if that is possible I trust God will reveal it to me.

I have more to speak of on down the path.  Until then, peace my friends.