2 John 1:12 Good News Translation (GNT)
12 I have so much to tell
you, but I would rather not do it with paper and ink; instead, I hope to visit
you and talk with you personally, so that we shall be completely happy.
It had been 52 years since I had
seen most of my Sedaven High School class members. When I took a trip to South
Africa in 2011, one of those members, Willie Uys, organized the very first
class reunion ever, using my visit as a catalyst. The time together was all too
short but richly rewarding.
We first went to Flip Retief’s
home and carried him out of his home so he could join us. His wife told us this
was the first time he had been out of the house, except to go to hospital, in
many months since he had severely scalded his foot in an accident. He had sunk
into a depression that was consuming all of his energy. He told me that he
despaired of ever being able to walk again. We were able to spend much of
another day together comparing memories and experiences. We also shared how our
Christian experiences have changed from the rather bleak outlook we had upon
leaving high school to the richness of the grace of Christ that we rejoice in
now. He later turned everything around; his foot has healed enough for him to
walk on it again.
During our reunion, others shared
their life experiences, some good and some tragic. We grieved about some of our
classmates who had already passed on. We agreed to try and get together again. Flip
summed up the joy we felt by saying that our conversation had brought closure
to many of his feelings about class members.
The group at the reunion had been
very anxious that I share their news with Smuts, our erstwhile class president,
since he also lives in Southern California. A little less than a year later, I
had a chance to talk with Smuts about our high school experience. He had not
been able to be with us during that reunion. He was as thrilled as I was about
the news.
Thank you, Lord, for the rich bonds of friendship and the even deeper
bonds of Christian brotherhood that you have given us so that we can indeed be
“completely happy.”
[1] The second man from the left is Willie Uys, I
am third, and Flip Retief is sitting in the front.
