Reunion Worthy?

Been to a reunion lately? Designing a discipling path at Sandals Church, I had a light bulb moment regarding this notion, which I have deemed valuable. Trust me here.

Making media history, the television show Lost became a cultural phenomenon, with a gigantic following boarding a plane to nowhere, or somewhere—it’s still hard to know which! So when after six seasons the producers finally decided to land it, the final episode created much anticipation and more than a few parties. Everyone sat on the edge of their seats wondering: How would they wrap it?

Fittingly, the closing script focused on the audience re-experiencing various deep connecting moments between the cast members. Projecting the characters fast-forwardly into their future lives/careers, unbeknownst at first, each bumps into a significant other from their past, whereupon the physical touch—unleashed a simultaneous flashback to the island, and the realization of who this other person was. The scenes were powerful. Sun–Jin. Sawyer–Julianne. Charlie–Claire. Sayid–Shannon. Each revelation became a rite of passage to the reunion.

Left unresolved in its tension was Jack’s story. With all the main cast already gathered, Kate, in her sweet direct way, was the one interceding to get Jack to finally join up with the group—to complete the reunion and make it right. The writers purposely named him Jack Shepherd, depicting his lead “shepherding” role in the story. Not that the others weren’t, but he was important . . . he had to be there! For the viewers watching, it evoked deep feelings of what real community is supposed to be like. Jack’s dad synthesized the underlying sentiment: “The most important time in your life is the time you spent with each other. You needed them and they needed you.”

Pondering how the producers tied the final bow on this fictional series, I found myself thinking in non-fictional terms about the depth of our relationships—as Christians. It stirred up in me, a timely question—one that needs to be asked! How many group experiences have you shared in, large or small—where if they had a reunion—it would be incomplete—without you? Pause momentarily. Some of us are now shrinking down in our seats sheepishly saying, “I don’t think they’d even notice my absence. Would anyone really care if I weren’t there . . . don’t think so!” Contemplating this thought makes us feel vulnerable—and those are scary human emotions. But the point goes beyond the pain! What we are diving into here needs to be pursued. Again, how many journeys have you shared with others—where you, like a key cast member at a re-gathering, would have to be there?

Think for a moment about your current circles. Yeah, the people you are journeying with right now. How “reunion worthy” is your connecting? It’s a great question. It’s the one I have asked again and again when contemplating a potent discipling path. You might think it’s simply cinched by coming to your church or group—and you’d be wrong. Many come through our classes, hear our teachings, join our groups—but it didn’t take. Nope. Most, come and go, without experiencing anything of the sort. It is astonishing how scores do endless Bible studies, and don’t even scratch the surface to something reunion worthy . . . something recognizably profound and memorable.

It begs another question. What is it that leads community life to those memory-marking places? Don’t you want to reach that level of resonation? I do. Though clearly unconventional, my church college group held a reunion thirty years remiss. It was weird! Time-morphed, grey haired, no haired, grown up twenty-somethings showed up. I found myself saying, “Oh my gosh, is that you!” As these people reminisced, we all basked in the blessing of an amazing chapter. It may have been fuzzy at the time, but now it was crystal clear; we shared something “reunion worthy.” People had grown spiritually, some, including myself, were literally transformed. We had stretched and shouldered up “on mission” together. Because of the shared sweat and toil, it meant something.

The answer lies before us. Assuredly, you and I will have to get more involved, invested and intentional. Alongside others, we must navigate a path to go deeper, keep stretching, and get out there of some limb for God and his mission! Perhaps, your current course is just beginning to create something “reunion worthy.” Or maybe you haven’t yet begun to get to those places, relationally or missionally. The reality of this possibility, however, is always in reach. Courageously, consider these questions:

• God, what do you want us to go hard after?

• How should I open up my life—so that we can connect deeply?

• Where do we need each other’s contribution?

• What kind of experiences will enable true “community”?

• Have we gotten out on that limb, Lord?

In the gifted seasons of our life, may we pursue with others today, what will be worthy tomorrow.

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