The Class Of 1969

Job 42:17
So Job died an old man and full of years.....

That verse has become a kind of special verse to me over the past few years.
The idea that Job survived life.....
The idea that Job was still standing after all he went through, to me, is a testimony to the power, grace, mercy and goodness of God.

Tonight, Vicki and I will go to my 45th class reunion.
The graduating class of 1969 - Etowah High School.
Where did the time go?
Like every other graduating class, we left school bright eyed, full of hope and dreams. We were ready to go make our mark on the world, so to speak.
We were ready to change the world.
To make our mark.

Sometimes wisdom comes at certain points along the road of life. The dreams we left with were soon filled with a reality. A reality that shaped and moulded us over time.
We found out that making our mark in society and in this world is found in the simple fact that we have survived.
We had jobs....some had careers.
We went to work every day and we paid our bills.
We married. Some divorced. Some lost their spouse through death.
But we have survived.
We celebrated the good times with zeal...
And we endured the hard times with resolve.
I guess you could say we made our mark the old fashioned way....we worked for it.

We had children and raised them as best we could.
Now we have grandchildren and we have turned into those people we swore we never would....pictures and stories about how incredibly talented, smart and cute our grand children are to anyone who would listen. (just for the record, mine are the cutest and smartest of any I have ever met).
We took family vacations.
We celebrated Christmas by spending more money than we probably should have.
Shot off fireworks and grilled out on the 4th of July.
Gave thanks at Thanksgiving.
We found our place in society and we dug out our niche so that we might live comfortably.

I think the one thing that encourages me the most, is that over time, and with facebook's help, I see many of my classmates who still have burning desire for God. The class of 69 represents many denominations, as many local churches are the home base for my classmates. 

Twenty eight who left Etowah in the class of 1969 have died. To me, that is twenty eight to many. But such is life, and I know that as the days, weeks, and months keep rolling by, the number will increase until the class of 1969 is but a memory. What we have done with our life.......choices made will ultimately define where we spend eternity. It's never to late to turn to God.

But here we are...
Still standing...
Still kicking, although I won't say how high.
So tonight I will celebrate life with my classmates.
I will speak of a time when younger men and women roamed the halls of dear old EHS.
Best band -- Devil Band....
Of Ghost walks on the week we played those dreaded Gadsden Tigers.
Bonfires to stir the spirit and show our zeal for our school.
Homecoming parades and the senior talent show.
We will speak kindly and thoughtfully of teachers that helped to shape us.
Miss Steffie...
Miss Trammel...
Mr. Stonicher...
Coach Glover and Hubbard, Moore and Payne.
Coach Balentine...
Miss Hicks...
Miss Sibert...
Miss Saffles....
Mr. Raines and Mr. York.
And all the others who passed through our lives....

Here's to the class of 1969....
Still standing....

God on you...
mb