FLCS Alumni Reflections
Recently, I attended my 25th high school reunion in Lake Tahoe California. There were 28 students that graduated in 1984 from Forest Lake Christian School, near Auburn. We were a typical class with a diverse group of kids, all gifted in different areas. (I was a cheerleader and softball player…not so good in the academic area) Because we attended a small school, there were plenty of opportunities to be involved in sports or academics, and by our senior year most of us had spent four years together, finding our way to adulthood through the friendships and experiences that our school provided. Our senior trip had taken place in two cabins on Eagle Lake, so it seamed fitting to reunite in the great outdoors once again.
The planning started many months before when several of us had connected on Facebook. My friends John and Cathy were the first to bravely suggest a reunion. Slowly almost everyone in our class joined the social network. I was talking to people I had not seen in 25 years, and the gaps that existed between the ‘then’ and the ‘now’ were all starting to fill in. There were stories to tell about marriage, children, successes and failures. I was so encouraged by my classmates, and felt so compelled to pray for them as needs arose.
Many class mates were still in California, although some of us were now living in Arizona, Texas, Iowa, New York, and Hawaii. Among us was a doctor, a pastor, a financial expert, a marine biologist, a probation officer, an artist, several small business owners, a family counselor, and stay-at-home moms. Our children ages ranged from 4 to18+ years old.
Still, with all this information about each other, the picture was not complete until we were able to gather in person. Early on in the planning stages the Lord impressed on me these verses from Hebrews 10:23-25
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit if doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
It became clear that the actual gathering was an important part of our reconnecting. For whatever reason, God had put our little class together all those years ago, and His work with us as a group was not done. We needed to “spur each other on towards love and good deeds” in person.
So, with the virtual connection of Facebook in place, it was time to make the long drive from Mesa, Arizona to Lake Tahoe, California. My family and I were able to arrive a few days ahead of time to relax before the preparations for the family get together night. I was thankful for this, because honestly speaking, I was a bit nervous. After all, I had kept contact with many of my high school friends, but most I had not seen in 20+ years.
The night before our ‘family night get together’ I didn’t sleep well. Being a planner I got my head caught up in the details, and I had many concerns about the logistics of the event and also the comfort and enjoyment of my classmates that would be attending. I imagined many had the same nervous feelings as I did.
Thursday came, and after a morning of energizing tennis we returned to my friend’s Condo to prepare for the party. On the last night of our senior trip, we cleaned the boy’s cabin together in preparation for one last party as seniors. This morning’s preparations so reminded me of that time 25 years ago, except now everyone would be arriving with their families and the signs of a life well lived written on their faces. By early afternoon we were ready.
Slowly, our classmates started arriving, with food to share, and their children in tow. Soon the empty green lawn over looking Lake Tahoe began to fill up with the conversations of old friends and the laughter of their children, playing together. While I was busy serving and ‘barking orders’ I was attentive to what going around me. Small conversations, first about little things, turned to conversations about future plans to connect with each other. All the anxiety I had about the logistics soon faded into incredible feeling of joy. This was so worth the effort. The dream had become a reality.
While many returned home that night, some of us stayed for a few more days of fellowship. We had a nice adult dinner at Jakes on the Lake, played tennis, hiked a beautiful trail to a Sierra lake, four wheeled, stayed up late, a generally had an amazing time laughing and recreating friendships from so long ago. New friendships were also made among our spouses and children, who I have to say were tremendous sports when subjected to the secret classmate language from long ago. There was a lot of giggling and good natured fun. It was a very rejuvenating time.
Sunday morning came, and after the condo was lightly cleaned, and heaps of dirty clothes packed up, it was time for ‘goodbyes’ and ‘so longs’. One classmate shared later that it was like leaving summer camp, where you are on such a high, having such a great time with friends its just hard to go home. It was. The days that followed for my family included a visit with my parents in my home town, and a short stay in San Francisco. Then came the long drive back to Arizona, where it was time to regroup and try and get back to life as normal.
As I began to reflect on my time with my classmates from so long ago and how sweet our time together had been, I started to think again about the verse in Hebrews and the value of connecting with others. Life here is short and our time with loved ones is so precious. Why is time together so sweet, and why is so hard to be apart? I believe it is a longing for the union that once existed before the fall of man. There were no barriers then, with each other or with our maker. One day, there will be a massive, amazing re-union for all of those who have believed and have waited for our Savior to return. There will be plenty of time to catch up, and our occupations of this world will be exchanged for the important job of serving and praising our Lord. We’ll be in it together, and it will be better than any summer camp or reunion can promise. We won’t have to pack up the dirty clothes and leave, it will be unending. The dream will become a reality.
That, my friends, is encouraging. When we spend time with each other on this earth, laughing and being open to each other, it is just a gimps of things to come. I think the writer of Hebrews knew the value of fellowship, and our human tendency to shrug it off when we don’t feel like it. I have been convinced that it is always, always, important to gather with other believers, even when you don’t feel like it, because “He who promised is faithful”
So, I am planning my next re-union, the last re-union, with joy and excitement, because the “Day” is fast approaching.
July, 2009
