When a classmate of mine reached out to open the idea of a high school 30th reunion … online … I was like what? Has it been that long? In my mind, I am still in my 30s! Kidding aside, that conversation got me excited. Why not take advantage of the technology available to make this happen? Covid-19 lock down may prevent us from celebrating in person, but we can leverage what available means we have. Immediately, we connected with another classmate and it was just amazing how ideas started pouring in. We were of the same mind that this is appointed, and we are a part of God’s larger plan. We would not miss this opportunity of reconnecting with our classmates, teachers and finding ways to encourage and help one another especially during these trying times.
I still remember our first planning meeting where about 21 classmates joined. That’s 10% of our total population. We were over 200 students in high school divided into 4 sections. It was so memorable and the atmosphere was just pure fun. It was as if no years have passed and we were just picking up where we left off. There are varying degrees of connections. There are those that keep in touch regularly on Facebook/Instagram and there are those that haven’t seen each other in decades. There were instances that we had to think hard to remember a classmate. We had a good laugh when one classmate blurted out asking who was speaking. Indeed, we can’t stop the effects of aging. Wrinkles, sags, curves in unwanted places, thinning hair line, etc. make us unrecognizable especially if we have not been in touch for so long! We had more planning calls after plus an active chat group. It is such a delight to catch up with everyone. What a blessing to enjoy 30+ years of friendship! Even though the grand reunion has not happened yet (it is slated on May 29), we have achieved partly the goals we’ve set. What’s more exciting, there are still a lot of possibilities even after the grand reunion.
Our meetings got me thinking about the stages of life. Each period of our life has its own joys and challenges. When I think back in high school, I think most of us would agree that this was the time when we were most conscious of ourselves, of how we are perceived by other people. We stressed ourselves much on how we can fit in or be accepted. I guess insecurity was high because we are still discovering ourselves and unsure of how to approach things. On the other hand, the innocence, the simplicity, and the energy of being young is something we relish and relive in our minds. In college, this was when our world opened, and we were no longer in our own bubble. We became independent and we are exposed to more complex situations. In our 20s, we enter the workforce, we earn for ourselves, we keep on discovering and trying out things that are in our bucket lists. In our 30s, life is in full swing with adulting responsibilities - babies and families to take care, bills and mortgages to pay, etc. In our 40s, the responsibilities continue, and we recognize that we don’t live for ourselves but that other people are dependent on us, even our own parents whom we look up to before as our own protectors. At this stage, we welcome the experiences that made us surer and more confident about ourselves. We learn not to sweat the small stuff, to pick our battles and we have an understanding of the more important things in life. We are wiser and we know our own strengths and weaknesses. I guess as we enter our 50s and 60s, that wisdom and confidence grows even more. Then, the reality of our body parts failing here and there is something that can’t be stopped.
Through all this, I think of our teachers as well. Such a noble profession that they have undertaken. What a challenge most likely that time in teaching and handling a class of students of varying personalities and energies. Our teachers were young that time and maybe unsure of themselves, but they matured and gained wisdom through collective experiences. Now that their students have all grown up and have their professional careers and families, there’s unspeakable joy to be part of that process of their student’s journey in life. I am reminded of the verse in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." At this present time, our teachers are reaping the rewards of the good deeds they have done.
We realize that as we age, we move up the next stage of life. As we grow old, we are regarded to be the people that makes decisions, provide counsel, and guide the next generation. Like it or not, we become mini versions of our parents. We are a tight community in high school and so we know our classmates’ parents. Looking at those that are present in the calls, I see parts of us inheriting where our parents have been. Funny thing too, we see ourselves in them when disciplining our children, nephews/nieces now. It’s as if we are repeating what our parents used to say but in a different way. “You know what during our time, we don’t have the Internet, we are limited with the information we can gather.” “You know what during our time, we did not have Google, but we go to the library and borrow books.” “You know what during our time, we didn’t have smart phones and we had in person conversations.” The “You know what during our time…” phrases, do these sound familiar?
Soon, our batch will become seniors and eventually meet our death. It’s a somber thought but a reality in life. One thing we have learned from this pandemic is that we never know when our last breath is. I like what Mahatma Gandhi said, “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” We make the most of each day and we never stop learning. We don’t limit ourselves from contributing to the betterment of our world just because of old age. As Christians, we believe that our life is not in our hands and we don’t limit what God has ordained for us to achieve. Above all, we are not afraid of death since it is only a gateway to a life everlasting.
Embrace each stage of life and when we meet our Maker someday, may we hear those beautiful words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”
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