This past weekend, I celebrated my 50-year class reunion in my hometown of Pella, Iowa. I was on the reunion planning committee, and this milestone event has been on our radar for about a year.

Obviously, I’m not being very private about hiding my age because, honestly, why bother at this stage of life!?

An event of this magnitude invites reflection — not just on the gathering itself, but on the emotions and memories it stirred.

Weekend Schedule

Friday, 2:00–4:00 pm — Informal gathering at a classmate’s home

Friday, 7:30 pm–late — Social time at a local watering hole

Saturday, 9:00–10:45 am — High school tour

Saturday, 11:00 am–12:00 pm — Junior high tour

Saturday, 5:30–9:30 pm — Main event at Pella Golf & Country Club

Our Goal for the Weekend

From the start, our planning committee had one guiding purpose. It wasn’t about attendance numbers or anything measurable. Our goal was simple: at the end of the weekend, we wanted everyone to be able to say, “I’m so glad I came.”

I’m pleased to say that goal was met far beyond what we hoped. The feedback we received was filled with gratitude and joy at having so many opportunities to reconnect.

Reflections from the Reunion

• Mixed Memories – This was more humorous than you might expect. Some classmates remembered their exact high school locker — and their locker mates for all four years. Meanwhile, others (like me) were sure we never had locker partners at all! And then there was the junior high memory of walking to a nearby elementary school for hot lunch every day because there was no cafeteria in our building. I had no recollection of those daily treks!

• Past Hurts – Through numerous conversations, I came away with a deeper awareness of the trauma too many classmates carried into adulthood. Some wounds were never acknowledged or healed. It gave me a profound sense of heartache — and an even greater appreciation for the safe, loving home I grew up in.

• Disappearing Lines – Those “class” lines that once divided us — jocks, math nerds, where you lived, who your parents were — seemed to melt away. At this milestone, none of that mattered. We were simply a group of survivors who valued meaningful conversation. We had finally grown up.

• Lives Lost – We displayed the names and dates of classmates we’ve lost through the years. My best friend from second grade was the first name. The most recent was a beloved classmate who died on September 9, 2025.  Out of 116 classmates, 26 are gone — about 22.4%. Without exception, the conversation around that number reflected our sense that it was much higher than average. My search confirmed it — typically only 10–15% of people have died by our age. There’s no clear explanation, only a deep sense of loss for the friends no longer with us.

The Bigger Picture

So, what do we make of these reflections? For me, it’s a mixture of emotions.

Gratitude for the Christian home my parents provided, where I always felt safe and loved.

Heartache for classmates who carried hidden trauma into adulthood.

Awe at the weight of history — nearly seventy years of life, joys, sorrows, and fleeting time.

A Lesson Worth Taking Home

Perhaps the greatest lesson is the value of reflection itself. We shouldn’t wait for a milestone reunion to pause and honor those who’ve shaped our lives.

Even more importantly, we can thank God for weaving those relationships into our stories — sometimes for a season, sometimes for a lifetime.

As I look back on this reunion, I’m reminded that life is both fragile and precious. Each day is a gift, and each relationship is part of the story God is writing in and through us. May we live with gratitude, hold one another with grace, and treasure the time we’ve been given.

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12