The Reunion

Returning to Waco, Texas, for my 50th high school reunion this past weekend seemed like a very innocuous thing to do: to see old friends, revisit memories and the stories of old, and hear about their hopes and dreams.

In the end, it threw me for a loop. I’m still processing the event. As I reflect, high school was but a holding place on my journey—a place of dream incubation—a place of spiritual incubation. There were foundations being put in place, but the foundations, in the end, weren’t my classmates. For me, high school was a launching pad for all that was to come. It was often a very lonely place because of the instant gratification culture, ripe with short-sightedness. My dreams and ambitions were too much to share back then. For the most part, I kept them to myself, protecting the sacredness of the hope they instilled.

The reunion was painful. There is no other way to put it. Painful because for many there, high school seemed to be the highlight of their lives. For most, addictions, poor decisions, or just trying to hold on to the past stymied their vision, and along the way, they lost hope. There was never a lift-off from their launching pads.

I knew my purpose for being there this past weekend was to listen to their stories and to encourage and inspire any dream embers that were still alive. But that night caught me by surprise, as very few of the conversations led to dreams or the future. The focus was on the past, as if keeping the story alive was the only thing many of them had to hold on to. The few conversations that went deep were like treasure. Their stories were life-giving and inspiring. They were like a light in the room. God was their source of strength. I was blessed to be in their presence.

I love my friends and will always be here for them. I will continue to reach out and love them. I will maintain hope that they find the true Dream Giver, the author of “all things made new,” for that is my joy and calling. With Jesus, the adventure never ends; there is no stuck, there is always hope, and with Him, there is always more.

“Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new person. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 TPT