Old Days – New Things

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This weekend, I stood in the upper room at the Copper Bar and the Red Barn, surrounded by familiar faces. Some hadn’t changed a bit, while others carried silver in their hair or had no hair at all. All had lines on their faces that measured the moments of their lives thus far. We gathered for our 45th high school reunion—a mix of nostalgia, laughter, and a few misty-eyed moments as we remembered those who are no longer with us, classmates and family. Everywhere I turned, Old Days – New Things.

As I looked around, I realized this reunion was more than just a walk down memory lane. It became a living parable of how God weaves the old and the new into the story of our lives.

Threads of the Past

At reunions, old stories resurface. We laugh about personal stories, events, dining mishaps, and forgotten fashion trends. And talked of teachers who left their mark, and our great principal who sported his red and white striped overalls. These shared memories connect us to who we once were. And they reminded us how far we’ve come. We even had one of our classmates who was just named as a 2025 Indiana Living Legend.

Similarly, our faith journeys have chapters we look back on. Some moments bring joy and pride. Others bring regret or pain. Yet every chapter has shaped who we are today. God wastes nothing. Even the broken places in our stories are part of His tapestry, because there is beauty in the brokenness and what we’ve learned from it.

The Present is a Gift

Amid the reminiscing, I noticed something beautiful happening. Conversations shifted from the “remember when” to “how are you really doing now?” Stories of health challenges, family milestones, career changes and retirement, and personal growth were shared with surprising vulnerability.

It struck me:

While we cherish the past, God calls us to the present.

As I scanned the crowd of classmates, it took me all the way back to childhood. From elementary, Jr. High, and into the high school years we were all there to celebrate. And it reminded me.

It reminded me of how many of these classmates unknowingly invested in me. Their families went out of their way to include me in activities, events, and sports. Back then, it seemed I was just a lost kid in the neighborhood. Without all the little things these families and classmates did, in reaching out and including me, no guessing where I would have ended up.

All of these memories came flooding back to me. It was a great insight into the evidence of God’s goodness in my life that I never quite recognized until this moment.

His Spirit was at work here and now. In that upper room, in the Red Barn, and maybe even with some guys driving around in a yellow Corvette with the top down in the wee hours of the morning. God was quietly moving through hugs offered to the grieving, encouragement spoken to the weary, and friendships rekindled after years of silence.

The Promise of the New

Isaiah 43:19

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

At our reunion, I saw glimpses of God’s “new thing.” Old grudges were laid down. New connections formed. Some classmates even discovered they shared a common faith.

Reunions remind us that our story isn’t finished. God is not done writing new chapters in our lives. No matter how many years have passed, He’s still at work. He can breathe fresh hope into old relationships, bring healing to long-standing wounds, and birth new purpose out of familiar places. He turns Graves Into Gardens…

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Reflection Questions:

• What parts of your past still shape how you see yourself today?
• Where might God be inviting you to see the “new thing” He’s doing in your life?
• Is there someone from your past you need to reconnect with or forgive?

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Challenge of the Week

Old Days – New Things. Next time you’re invited to a reunion, whether of classmates, family, or friends, consider this: it could be more than a social event. It might be sacred ground where God wants to blend old memories with new mercies. Because with God, every gathering is a chance for forgiveness and redemption, reconnection, and new beginnings. So be it!

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