Hello,
The Bible tells us that the rain fell upon the earth for 40 days and 40
nights. It says the Israelites
wandered in the wilderness from Egypt to the promised land for 40 years. Jesus, it says, was tempted by the
devil for 40 days in the wilderness, and Christians all around the world will
begin their yearly 40 day journey through Lent beginning next Wednesday, Ash
Wednesday.
The number “40” is a common number in the Bible, and as with many
numbers in the Bible it has a deeper meaning than just its numerical
value. Actually, the truth that I
learned in my seminary years is that the number “40” is rarely meant to denote
its numerical value. Like many figures
of speech in English, the number “40” amongst the Hebrew speaking people of the
Old Testament is really meant to be heard as “a long time”. The number 40 was used in much the same
way that we might use “all day” (e.g. – When I called the IRS they put me on
hold “all day”. (Do you sense a bit of personal input here?))
Well, I am coming upon an actual “40” years in my life, my 40th
anniversary of my high school graduation for which a reunion has just begun to
be planned. When I think back to
1975, in some ways it seems like “a long time” ago but in other ways not so
long ago. I remember seeing alumni
come back for their 40th reunion and as they walked down the parade
route I thought to myself, “Boy, do they look old!” But now that I am one of those 40 year folks, I don’t
perceive myself to be as old as those upon whom I looked 40 years ago. On the other hand, much has changed over
these 40 years. I have aged, and I
wonder if others might recognize me or not when they see me. I moved away from my home town to go to
college, and my work life has never led me back, and so I wonder how much at
home I will feel in my home town.
I have lost touch with almost everyone with whom I graduated (except for
facebook “friends” with whom I have made social media connections), and so I wonder what it might be like
to reunite with what will seem to me to be a group of strangers. Could be interesting!
I wonder who might come to this 40th reunion, and I wonder
what the talk will be amongst those who get together. I suspect that many will share the stories that they
remember from those days 40 years ago.
I suspect that many will tell the tales of where life has taken them
over these 40 years. And this is
what I suspect the common content of all these stories will be….good memories,
good times, and good adventures.
That is, after all, what high school reunions are meant to be.
My other suspicion is that there will be a group of people missing from
this high school reunion: those people for whom life has been hard, fraught
with “failures”, and whose stories and tales bring bad memories. Don’t think many of these people will
travel far, give up their time, and spend their money to be part of something
that they know will magnify in their eyes these painful things.
As a Pastor for 32 of these past 40 years, it seems to me that many folks envision church to
be like a high school reunion…to be a place where people come whose lives are
full of good memories, good times and good adventures….a place for good people. More than once when divorce strikes a
couple, I have seen those people vanish from church. More than once when a person has found their dirty laundry
being aired out on the front page of the paper, that person no longer comes to
church. More than once, I have
seen people who I know are grappling with soul-deep pain come to church with a
cosmetic smile that they hope will hide the crushing turmoil in their lives.
But here’s the kicker: church was never meant to be a high school
reunion. Church is meant to be the
place where people reunite every week to share everything in life….the
good….and the bad. A time and a
place to rejoice. A time and a
place to weep. A time and a place
to celebrate victories. A time and
a place to put the past behind and start over again, fresh. A time and a place where we don’t have
to hide from one another, where we don’t have to be judged by one another, and
where we can lift one another up by the power of the one who was lifted on the
cross.
So, whether or not people
will be surprised to see you at a high school reunion, know that when you come
to church, people won’t be surprised. They will be glad…glad to see you, glad to hear you, and glad
to love you (at least that is the way it is supposed to be in church.). Also know this: no matter whether it has been 40 minutes, 40
days, 40 months, or even 40 years since you have been to church…it doesn’t
matter. Jesus invites you anyway….for
a reunion with him!
Have a great week.
God’s grace and peace,
Pastor Jerry Nuernberger
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