First Baptist Church of Herndon

Who are you again?

Linda Soller | Oct 17, 2012

Reunions are funny things, and I don’t mean funny “ha-ha”.  We see people we have not seen for a while, usually a long while. We try to catch up on all that we have missed over time and sometimes that can be a lot of ground to cover. Sometimes we are trying to re-connect with people we hardly remember at all. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good reunion. There is something comforting about establishing a connection to our past, be it family or friends, or neighbors, or school mates. Yes, that is where I am headed with this, my 40^th high school reunion.

If you have ever gone to a reunion you know the routine. You walk in the room and think, “who are these old people?” Then you realize the people in the room who are looking at you are saying the same thing. Even that first 10 year reunion when we were really young, we felt so mature. You check your name badge to make sure your name is legible and hope you will be able to catch a glimpse of everyone else’s before you have to say their name out loud. I am just not good with names. I truly admire those who are good at remembering names and events and life facts that my brain has locked away in a dusty old memory trunk filled with cobwebs never to be opened again. You meander around desperately searching for the familiar. It might be your old gang, your best friend, the classmate who you happen to see during the years between reunions, but you are looking hard for your comfort zone. The event passes differently for everyone and the success of the event is often judged based on who was there that they really wanted to see again. The poor committee who worked so hard and did such a good job will never get the accolades they deserve for their efforts. By the end of the weekend you find the memories are flooding your thoughts, and you have pulled your old yearbook from the shelf to leaf through one more time. Gee, we were all so young!

Outside of the physical changes, most of us change very little through the years. Our personalities mature but often remain true to those high school kids we used to be. We may have turned out differently than others expected, but the traits we needed to succeed, adjust, or fail were always there.  Some blossom and rise above the expectations of others, some cruise along with no surprises, and others struggle. Some are no longer with us and despite our infrequent contact we miss them dearly. There is a wonderful song that says, “people who need people are the luckiest people in the world.” With another reunion behind me I thank God for the people in my life. What a gift we are given, to share our brief time on this earth with those who pass our way, touch our hearts, raise our spirits, and who challenge us to grow as human beings.  As you go through your week remember those who have been part of your life, think fondly of those who are in your life today, and smile in anticipation of those to come. Oh yes, and thank you reunion committee for a job well done! Have a great week.

:o) Linda