The Empty Chairs

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A true friend is always loyal.

~Proverbs 17:7, TLB

What a Friend we have in Jesus; all our sins and griefs to bear.

~Joseph Medlicott Scriven

I carried June to her 60th high school class reunion last Saturday evening. It was the West Limestone High School class of 1966. I think this is the third I have attended. I was impressed with the first: we all had children then and it was a picnic: family oriented and no alcohol. The second was some years later, couples dinning together at a restaurant: again very family oriented and no booze. The one Saturday was at the Fish Creel at Anderson, Alabama. Best hushpuppies in the world. Better than Greenbriar, better than Catfish Cabin and much better than Jack’s. I ate four or five and they are huge. June has a good class and they have quality reunions, but I couldn’t get over how old they looked. For one lady, it was her first reunion. She had not see her class mates in 60 years. All this got me to thinking about my friends and relationships.

I had a lot of friends in college. Many of the kids that were with me at UCLA went on to Athens College just as I did and so several of us were together all the way through. One such friend was Larry Sinyard from Rogersville, Alabama. He was a close friend to one of the couples that sat at our table Saturday night. As I pondered the subject, I can think of only one friend that goes back to high school—college and to the present. I just got off the phone with one of my friends in Danville. We have known each other for 46 years. I actually have friends from all the churches I have served but we are talking six churches total and three were in our college and seminary days. Then I have friends that we have made in the last 10 years and some in the last few months. It is amazing how God provided new friends to walk beside us along the way.

There were 57 in June’s class and I think they said 27 have departed this world. I think that is 47% which is almost half. I think June counted 17 in attendance the other night which is a little more than half of those remaining. Joe David spoke at DHS’s Baccalaureate last spring and he said something that I had not thought about. He told those kids “You are graduating Tuesday night and you will never be together as a group again. Matter of fact, many of you will never see each other again.” Immediately, I questioned that in my mind until I begin to think. There were 133 in my class and I have attended two reunions and left deeply disappointed both times. The people I was anxious to see were not there, and I must say that I have never seen more than half the class, if that many, in these last 59 years.

Two conclusions: Friends are a treasure. I thank God for my friends. The second conclusion is aging happens quickly. Its like one day you are young and the next day you wake up old. It is a harsh reality to face and some refuse to face it. It is what it is! I keep seeing these ads about the Tai chi chair and it ask for your age group. It’s like 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and then 70+. “Oh, that hurts, I am in the last age bracket.” Why not 70-79 and then 80-89 and then 90+. I will tell you why they do it: the average life span in America is 79. For men it is 76.5 and for women 81.4. Anyway you look at it, I am over the limit.

  • Get braced for our last heat wave. It will last until September 13 according to my app. The good news is it will probably be the last for 2026 and it is not supposed to be as bad as the last one. Some 95+ days but no 100+ days.
  • Don’t forget someone out there needs you to intercede for them today and it may be your pastor.
  • Outdoor Church this Sunday September @ 8:00. We are sticking with the 8 O’clock start due to the heat.
  • GOD’S WORD FOR ALL PEOPLE is Sunday September 13th. Our Goal at the POINT…108 verses which happens to be the number of verses in the book of James.
  • Slidder and Hotdog supper Wednesday night September 16. Originally had this for the 9th but we decided to use the pavilion and so maybe the weather will be cooler by the 16th.
  • Monday October 26…we are hosting the pastor appreciation banquet at the POINT. Things are a little different this year. It will be pastors and executive committee members. I have asks Terri and I am asking our 49ers to help with the meal for the EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. I think we will have between 60-70. It will work if we have a servant’s heart! All 49ers who help are to stay and eat with us.
  • October 28 is our Bill Smith Jambalaya Supper. Pat and Chad are really to go. They will cook the Jambalaya and I am doing hush puppies.
  • We do have one Wednesday night meal in November; it falls on Veterans Day and we are having a stew and Joe is going to have us a video of our veterans at the round table. After the Stew in November, there will be no more Wednesday night suppers until Spring.
  • First Wednesday day service will be November 18 at 10:30
  • We will have a day service on November 25 and lunch but no night service. {Thankgiving Eve}

Have a great Tuesday and thanks for reading the blog!!!!

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