How was your Saturday?

How was your Saturday evening? I think mine was more than unique.

Before you read any further… take a look and read what’s on that picture above. I’ll wait for ya 😉.

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Yep… that is a 1970 class reunion drawing. No… I am not 76. But I know someone special who is. That special person is my mom. She had planned to attend a class reunion but circumstances had been working against her going. When I learned this, I asked if she wanted me to go along. Of course, Mom responded along the lines of, “you don’t have to do that,” (moms are gonna mom… right?) but I knew this was something she wanted to go to. In fact, at that moment I knew it was something she needed to do so that she could have a time of enjoyment. I said, of course I don’t mind going.

On to the event itself...

The night went as expected. It was not one of those YouTube videos where a brawl breaks out and chairs start getting tossed around...

Anyone else have a feeling they are going to wind up in the middle of one of those at some point in life? You’re in the middle of enjoying your french fries and all of a sudden people start throwing haymakers around you… followed by you having to dodge sharp metal objects flying around (aka eating utensils), with chairs bouncing off walls, etc., …  Just me... Ok.... I’m kidding.

The only thing that occurred was one of the Class of 1970 ladies left a little early from the table I was at and when they brought around the receipts to use at the counter to pay, they had one for her. She had already left. My thoughts were just as yours might have been... did I just witness a 76 year old lady leave a restaurant without paying for her meal? Immediately the anxiety levels increased at our table. Ok... maybe that's a stretch... but we did at least wonder. But... I’m like... if she didn’t pay at the front, I’m going to cover her bill because I do not want to see a 76 year old lady go to jail 😁. But we found out she had paid and all was well. It was kind of funny yet not funny in the moment. Memories made!

In all seriousness though. I sat there tonight and watched the room as the event progressed… classmates who graduated 56 years ago talked and laughed amongst themselves. Smiles and joy just filled the room. I’m sure they shared stories together that is unique to them and their time together in school so many years ago. I thought how cool it was that God allowed me to be in that moment with this group.

After it was over and I was back home, I thought… this is what living intentional looks like. It’s being present even if you don’t feel like it. It’s hugging that person that you haven’t seen in years letting them know how much you appreciate them fully knowing that it could be the last time you do see them.

We even stopped at a gas station on the way home and I got to share about Jesus with someone briefly. It's the way the conversation went and I took the opportunity in the moment. These all are God moments. I love Him. I love how He works things out like that. Always be watching for opportunities.

Here’s my point on sharing this whole story or maybe even call it a series of events... We must be intentional in life.

We are intentional with the things that matter most to us. People can spin it however they want. But it’s true. I had to learn over the years that I will make time for those that matter most and the things that matter most. Simply put, you will make time for what matters to you. I can remember with regret many of the times in life that I did not make time for people I cared deeply about. Some of them are no longer here. I don’t have the ability to make the time now. The time passed. The opportunity is gone.

People recognize intentionality. They know when you care. They know when you don’t. This life is short in the grand scheme of eternity. Just today I was reminiscing about people I knew from years ago that have passed away even in my graduating class of 26 years ago.

Think about this way… we are all just a tiny dot in time. How big your dot is when your time comes will totally depend on how intentional you were in life… to go even further… if we go by the grave one day (should Jesus tarry His coming before we find ourselves in that moment of last breath here) it is a 100% guarantee that each of us will be a “hyphen” between two years on a marker in a graveyard or at least on a death certificate. Our intentional living or lack thereof will stand as a reminder to those left behind. Oh and by the way... why be a dot when you can be an exclamation point in life?

People will remember how you made them feel.

So in saying all this… let me add one additional point… 10/10 would totally recommend attending a random high school graduating class reunion of 55 years (technically 56… but who’s counting).

Be intentional with your life.