The Class of 1974 gather for their fiftieth class reunion. The 2024 Class Photo in the front row left to right are Janis (James) Bangs, Teresa (Willis) James, Bethany (Greenwood) Roe, Cindy (Heaton) Galloway, Susan (Brasher) Smith, Patty (Ponder) French, Ramona (Cline) Webb and Kathy (Ray) Purcell. In row two are Kent Hagman, Marilyn (Colson) Zimmerman, Carla (Ashlock) Showers, Melanie (Nordling) Hickey, Judy (Nix) Heaton, Pam (Ledford) Bensel, Shelley (Carter) Phinney, Linda (Sutton) Barnes and Mark Klein. In the back row are Kelly Hagman, Keith Roehr, Kenny Burrows, Richard Rome, Bruce Christensen, Don Hickey, Don Riley, Wilbur Kinser, Ted Heaton, Doug Martin, Alfred Olinger, Hal Schechter and Mike Hollenback. Photo courtesy of Kathy Purcell.
Oh what a Day! The Hugoton High School Class of 1974 met September 21 to celebrate 50 years since graduation. As Kindergarteners they had 85 members in the photo. As the years went on they gained and lost members having a total of 98 different students that attended at one time or another. When they graduated they had 74 members. Of the 85 in the Kindergarten photo 49 in the class attended from Kindergarten to their Senior year.
As members came into the gathering they were greeted by a memorial of flags for members of the ones they had lost plus flags for two of the children of their class. Gone but not forgotten – they will never be forgotten. Thirty members plus spouses and children came to visit and it was enjoyed by all. As they sat down for supper they were reminded of “Second Chances”.
In Luke 7:11-17, there is reported a very special interaction between Jesus and a widow who was now grieving the loss of her only son. Apparently, the whole town of Nain felt sorry for her as they were mourning with her. Jesus had compassion on her – He raised her son from the dead and gave him back to his mother.
Can you imagine the scene? This mother was given a second chance. I wonder what she did. I wonder what she said. Do you think she used the days differently now? Do you think she valued her time with her son differently now? Do you think she spoke to her son differently now? Do you think she used the time to regularly talk to him about the Lord (Deut. 6:4-9)?
Most of us are missing “key people” from our lives (parents, spouses, children, friends who have passed away). Many of us wish we could say one or two more things to these people – but we will not be given a second chance like the widow of Nain.
We dare not take any of our blessings (like our families) for granted. Let us love more…forgive more…smile more…talk more. What would you do with a second chance like the one given to the widow of Nain? We better just take advantage of today instead. Bart Warren, South Green Street church of Christ, Glasgow, Ky. This was our “Second Chance”.
