reunion part 2

I think I figured it out. I think I figured out, at least in part, why we as humans love reunions so much and why the church does too. I think I figured out why it’s a big red flag for me right now. (And I think and hope this all flows clearer than it does it my head!)

Reunions often relive the glory days or focus too much on the future. Think about it. Whether you’re with your family, at the 20-year high school reunion or just another Sunday at church, we like to check in and take score. What have you been doing? Where have you been going? And the best, do you remember when… Of course these questions certainly help rekindle relationships strained by distance or time, and they can be as innocent as any other. And if reunion goers aren’t reliving the glory days they’re thinking about the future. If only things were this way, or why did this bad thing happen or this unfair deal pass. For those at a church that’s struggling or in transition, Sunday mornings can be a place to grouse once again about how things need to change for whatever reason. For teenagers or college students at family reunions, the constant question about what’s next gets old.

What happened to today? What happened to living fully present in the moment? What happened to grieving when it’s time to grieve, celebrating when it’s time to celebrate, and embracing now for now?

This pseudo reunion/conference I’m attending right now seems to talk a lot about what the glory days looked like and the future when all the “young” people come to church. And for the present, many bemoan the current realities of declining numbers, misunderstanding, and lack of interest. Well what would happen if we lived out our passions and hope now rather than saving it for that glorious day in the future when everything is as we think it should be? What if parents and aunts and uncles asked, “What brings you joy now? How are you living out your talents today?” What if old classmates asked, “What is a bright spot in life? How create those moments and why are they so bright?”

Since reading the book Switch and trying to live with faith, which Hebrews says is BEING sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, I can’t help but seek something more from our gatherings and conversations especially those with whom we’ve had history. Faith is a PRESENT tense action (BEING). Faith is not something that will be or was awesome at one point. It IS now and with that present faith we can face the present realities in our lives. Of course that doesn’t mean to use the past to give us instruction for decisions. Nor does it mean we’re to forget what Jesus sent before us to do Now and the Future. Faith simply allows us to use these other tenses as motivation for the work and play and life that must be done presently.

Reunions connect people with trust and the gift of that trust is the ability to move together, learn from each other, and be authentic. What a gift for today!