As if I need reminders that time marches on, in two weeks I celebrate my 68th birthday—and that weekend, former high school classmates will gather for a 50-year reunion.
I’m not attending the reunion mostly for financial reasons (I’m looking for work and can’t justify the travel expenses). I’ve only made a handful of these high school reunions over the years, and have kept in occasional touch with three of my former classmates.
Since graduating high school and college, my 40-year career in communications has mirrored the good and bad of the U.S. economy: Promotions, bonuses, challenging work; but also downsizing, unemployment and lately, ageism.
By the world’s standards, I’ve led an ordinary life. My wife and I are still married after 37 years (unless I blow it between now and October). We have a son who has built a solid career as an electrician in Nebraska and a daughter who is completing her Master’s Degree and excels in her full-time job at the University of Arizona. We have three grand-dogs who keep us amused and busy.
Some of my former high school classmates retired long ago. I want to keep producing quality work for at least a few more years. By skipping the reunion I won’t feel like I have to explain why retirement isn’t the right option for me today.
The conversations at past reunions I attended centered mostly around retelling stories of the “glory days,” and assessing each other’s successes in work and life. The 68-year-old version of Tom has a much more sober appraisal of what is important in life. I don’t regret my high school past but I have moved on.
It probably does not surprise many that even though Quigley Preparatory Seminary North was a Catholic high school serving as a feeder pipeline for the priesthood, at past reunions none of my former classmates seemed interested in talking about faith and their thoughts on spirituality.
I can see the eyes rolling if I would start a conversation about faith and what happens when we die. I get that most people don’t want to think about dying, but it is a fact of life.
My Christian faith has deepened significantly over the past two decades. In recent years, I’ve paid particular attention to the message Jesus gave to his disciples:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:21-23, New International Version).
That is a warning from Jesus to so-called “believers” that lip service and religious activity won’t save anyone. Salvation in the kingdom of heaven requires an authentic, personal relationship with God and obedience to His will.
I grieve that former classmates may be in danger of eternity in hell, and they don’t believe that is a possibility. We all make choices that define our lives and legacy. Life is too short to ignore the important things and spend time on the superficial.
That’s a message I would want to share with my former classmates, but I don’t think it would be received well.
