It’s that time of year – time for proms, graduations, and high school or college reunions. It’s time for new beginnings, celebration, reflection, and remembrance. It’s a good time.
This year will mark 40 years since I’ve graduated from high school. While I’m unable to attend the reunion festivities in Nebraska, I was able to gather with my classmates at the 35-year mark. I learned some valuable insights during that gathering about the impact of time on human relationships.
First and foremost is how we have all changed through the passage of time.
In looking back to our school days, I remember catty attitudes, cliques, and sometimes heartbreaking behaviors toward those who were in any way different. The benchmarks for acceptance were good looks, good grades, being on the cheerleading squad, or athletic ability.
Now, don’t get me wrong here. I’m not suggesting that my hometown school experience was bad or that it was different than any other school experience. What I’m saying is that the immaturity that comes from youth often negatively impacts the social atmosphere, and my school was no exception.
Time is the ultimate equalizer. When my classmates and I gathered for our 35th reunion, the dividers resulting from immaturity had tumbled. No one asked or cared about achievement. No one scrutinized outward appearance. We had all learned to rejoice in the simple beauty of relationship and shared memories. We had learned to embrace diversity, to celebrate the gift of life, and to understand the beauty of fellowship. We were just glad to be together again, this time as equals. Time had taught us what matters. Since we had all been together from kindergarten through high school, it was sweet indeed.
God calls us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Thankfully, we are now able to do just that.
It’s about time.
Joy in Jesus,
Jacquee
This blog is in memory of and dedicated to my dear friend and classmate,
Mary Powers Robb (1954 – 2010).