As Time Goes By

 

I recently read a posting about someone’s childhood experience and how they related to that experience, and it got me to thinking about my own growing up years. I have learned, over time, that during my formative years my house and its furnishings were not that much different from those of my friends and classmates. In later years, as an adult, I learned from many of them that their home life in those houses was not really that different from mine either. A few had it better and a few had it harder but most of us were having a very similar experience. 

Over the years I have developed relationships with people in the various circles in which I moved. I had my ministry friends, my college and seminary friends and my academic friends, church member friends, travel industry friends and because in all of all of those friend categories my international friends. Different in so many ways the one thing they all have in common is that I think of them as friends. If I were a rich man, I’d rent a nice hotel with a great hall and have them all together in one place so I can say “Thank You” for enriching my life. 

I believe that God has a plan for our lives that makes us a part of His greater plan for mankind. As a part of that plan He brings people in and out of our lives. Some are a part of our lives the whole of the time while others only for a short span. Some come into our lives early and leave only to return in later years. It is an amazing process and such a joy when one is aware of what is taking place.  When we realize God is doing all this weaving to accomplish something bigger than ourselves and at the very self-same time He is shaping us into the expressed image of His dear Son. As He weaves the tapestry we call our life He never drops a stitch. He even uses the bad experiences of life as opportunities to enrich us. There is a sense in which I am what I am because of who you, my friends, are. God is making something beautiful of our lives.  

However, over the years there has been a strange and dare I say almost spiritual connection with the group of people with whom I started this journey we call life. Because our lives went so many directions after May 1965 so many were not seen again for 25 years and others for 45 years and yet I feel as though in some kind of mystical way they have walked with me every day of my life.  When I walked the school hallways with them I thought we were all so very different and now as I come to the end of my journey I see we were really not that different at all. 

I have not forgotten my best friend all through Junior and senior high school even though it has been more than 58 years since I last saw or even spoken to him. I am sure I am poorer for that. On the other hand, a few people with whom I rarely spoke or associated with in those days have become precious friends. However, it doesn’t seem to be the frequency of time spent together or of conversations shared that give my fellow PHS Class of 1965 a special place in my heart of hearts. I weep over the passing of people about whom I know little or nothing and I find myself rejoicing with those who find new happiness in our senior years and I am saddened when they hurt. But as strange as it may seem I feel drawn to the members of that class. I don’t know why . . . I just know it is so. Maybe you can tell me.

I find myself wishing I could reach around all of us and bring us into our own private Brigadoon. So many of these folks are people of faith . . . . the Christian faith. That means that one day God will bring us together in our own eternal Brigadoon . . . we call it Paradise. Paradise becomes in many respects a paradise because so many of you will be there. Intellectually I know that not all will be there but I see them there none-the-less. Heaven in my mind is like now except without flaws and sin.

So, for all the big and small ways that you, the members of the PHS Class of 1965 have touch, help shape and continue to minister to my life I say, “Thank you.” In spite of my doubts, fears and anxieties in May 1965 about what the future held for us you seem to me to have succeeded in life. A few made it materially and few fell through the cracks but by-in-large you managed to become great people. If no one else has told you lately, then let me do it now, “You are indeed loved.” I know because I have love in my heart for you. I can’t explain it but it is there none-the-less. 

By the way, If you are a 1965 graduate or attended Pasadena High School in Pasadena, Texas between 1962-64 but were transferred to and graduated from Sam Rayburn in 1965 you should check out our class page on Facebook . You can keep up with what's happening there and you'll know when our next class "Gather with a Few Old Friends" dinner is scheduled.