Could it be that we time these events so that we can actually feel better about ourselves? You know what I'm talking about. Everyone appreciates the fact that you have that one, or maybe several, weird relative, or relatives, that allow you to go home and feel completely normal about your life. If you don't know what I'm talking about, I hate to be the first one to clue you into the fact that it's you. Don't worry, God still loves you.
Funny thing is, my family isn't really big on reunions. Either that or I never get invited. The last reunion that I actually remember was my wedding ... 12 years ago. As you can see, we're a sentimental bunch. However, that reunion left memories that still hold strong. I'll never forget my grandmother sending so many to counseling that summer. Apparently, she and her half gallon of bourbon felt that she still had that swagger with the young guys. The only problem was that she spawned the generation that produced those younger guys. I can only imagine those poor saps rocking themselves to sleep in a corner with tears streaming down their faces. Lucky for me, she knew me well enough to bypass me. Needless to say, the thought of another family reunion gives me pause.
The crazy thing about family reunions, especially large ones (I actually have friends who do this sort of thing), is that you have all of these people getting together, and really the beginning goes back to simply two people who fell in love. Two people have the ability to put into motion the beginning of a large nation. What's even more exciting to think about is the kind of legacy those two people can create when strategic about raising their family.
I'm in no rush to see my kids grow up (although I would pay money for my youngest to be potty trained), but I wonder what kind of legacy my wife and I are beginning in our home. Will we spawn a large, branching family tree? Will our hopes and vision for life carry through the generations? I wish there was a way to see into the future (that would allow me to take someone out, if needed ... just kidding) and get a glimpse of what your actions today will create tomorrow. Will our family get together to celebrate during the treacherous summer months, or will they live separated lives (I certainly hope not)?
In the same way, I find it amazing that with the hundreds of laws that exist in the Bible, Jesus had the insight to simplify it for us with just two, and both of those deal with love. Love God, and Love Others. If you can do that, you don't even have to know what the other 600 plus laws of the Bible are. You're already following them. It's amazing to me how complicated we have made faith over the centuries with theology, and even competing theologies at that, church models, denominations, eschatology, and the list goes on, when all we really need to do is Love God, and Love Others. I bet you didn't see a moral lesson coming into this at the beginning, did you? That's what get for trusting me ...
