The Fairman Reunion!

Today is the Fairman Reunion!  Nancy's dad came from a huge family, and I have been attending their reunions since I was 18.  That means that except for a few missed while away on missions trips over the years, that I've attended about 30 of them.  The reunion offers the opportunity to catch up with those we haven't seen for a while and to be reminded of the importance of family.  I'll never forget the first Fairman reunion I attended--about 300 people showed up for the day!  To me that was a huge reunion.  The Marshall reunion brings out about a tenth of that number.  Over the years, the numbers have diminished as Lee's (my fahter-in-law) generation has mostly gone on to be with the Lord, and the succeeding generatons haven't been so prolific in producing offspring.  Even so, the reunion is still bigger than most families.  As I reflect on that gathering together of loved ones, I'm reminded this morning that one day we who trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, will be part of an amazing reunion.  We will join with all people of all times and places who are our brothers and sisters in Jesus, and the reunion will be for ETERNITY!  The thought of meeting folks such as King David, Peter, Paul--not to mention Jesus overwhelms me.  Hebrews 11 and 12 tell us of the family heritage to which we belong and of the "great cloud of witnesses" who will be part of that reunion.  As I go about this day, the thought of that incredible future humbles me and motivates me to follow faithfully, to "run the race with endurance," because that's going to be one reunion in which we all want to participate!