Reunion Time

This past Saturday I attended a mini-reunion of my graduating class. At the risk of giving away my age, it was our 30th Class Reunion. 30 years!!! I can't believe I've been out of high school that long. It seems only a few weeks ago I graduated from Campbell. OH, IT WAS!!!! But some of us wait a little longer to try to do something with our lives, and that would be ME!

Anyway, back to the reunion.

I went to school in Richmond County in North Carolina. Our county was made up of four Jr. High schools and those four Jr. High schools came together to form one high school. Richmond Senior High School, home of the Richmond Raiders, 4-A Football Powerhouse. Hence the real reason there was only one high school. Our class was so large. We graduated with 556 people in our class. We started with over 700 but we had one particular English teacher that probably could be one of the reasons for the decrease.

Because our class was so large some of us don't take advantage of the "every 5 year" reunion opportunities simply because we don't know the folks that attend so the Ellerbe Jr. High School group decided to have our own reunion.

It was so nice to see the ones that attended. We didn't have a large group because of some trying to get in that last summertime vacation before schools start, but we had enough to sit and remember. It was fun to hear what folks had been up to for the last 30 years, how many grandchildren had been born to the group, how many had achieved their life-long dreams and those that had not. The best part was being able to renew the friendships we enjoyed so long ago.

The one thing that prompted this "reunion" was the fact that one of our own had mini strokes which led to a surgery that involved a major stroke on the table. We were reminded in an instant that we won't live forever and we should keep in touch with those who were such an important part of lives at one time. If you haven't seen or talked to some of your "old" friends in a while, do it now. You never know if it will be the last time.

God has put folks in our path throughout our lives for a reason. Cherish them and let them know how much they mean to you. You'll be glad you did.

My New Job

Well, it's official! I am going to be working as a resident Chaplain at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. You may remember my earlier blogs where I spoke of such experience during the last semester Div school. It was a rewarding experience and knew then that God had placed me in that place for a reason. For a little while I thought the reason was so I wouldn't have to take Supervised Ministry under Dr. Brock, but now I know better.

In a recent conversation with my mother, I realized there were some paths I could have taken that would have led me far FAR away from where I am now in my walk with God. I'm not sure God and I are hand in hand all the time, but I'm not too many steps behind him on the path of my life. If I had chosen other ways, I'm not sure I would even be on the path. So, God is good and God is patient.

I've stayed busy over the summer but nothing of any great worth, which I might add, was my intention. I didn't want to have to do anything after graduating so, I didn't. I have successfully gotten a good tan, which was a goal and I have laid out my hours at the church so that my part-time status doesn't actually take up 50 hours of my week. This is good.

Now, I am in the planning mode for my new job. I'm one of those weird Chaplains that gets excited when her pager goes off. Not because someone is in crisis, but because I have an opportunity to minister to someone. So, on August 25th I will begin my new journey. But until then..... I'm off to beach to keep working on this tan.