The Alumni Association

As the wife of a man who bleeds burnt orange (for the University of Texas), I don't often watch the Aggies play, but Darin and I had the opportunity to see them and the Longhorns on Friday with our friends the Beans. Unfortunately for Darin, the result of the game wasn't what he'd hoped, but we still had a great time. I've been to Division 1 games before, so the experience wasn't completely unfamiliar to me, but what always catches my attention is the spirit of unity that pervades those events. Wearing the same colors, shouting and singing the same words in unison, the simultaneous cheers of 80,000 people can be deafening, and often proves overpowering and intimidating to the visiting players.

As we walk through this holiday season, many of you, like me, will be lonesome for loved ones that have gone on to be with the Lord. For some of you, the grief is still so fresh, you pick up the phone to call them only to realize they won't answer. For others, the Thanksgiving meal was only a little less lonely this year, and for some, Christmas will be a chance to remember all the goofy presents they gave you and laugh at the reminiscence.

Those that are in Christ can cling to the assurance of knowing that not only will our Savior never leave or forsake us (Heb 13:5), but also that we are surrounded by the believers who have gone on before us (Heb 12:1). And I personally believe that they are cheering us on, even when the result of every "game" isn't what we'd hoped. Whether here or in eternity, in the body of Christ, there is a spirit of unity (the Holy Spirit) who never changes. We wear the same colors (the blood of Christ) and shout and sing the same words (Scripture). And what's even more exciting to me is that their cheers (prayers), combined with ours for one another, are often overpowering and intimidating to our opponent, Satan. He hates to be in the presence of unified worship of Holy God. Our loved ones in Christ have seen the victory. So, let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful, and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Heb 10:23-24), and smile with me, remembering the joy set before us one day, when we get to be a part of the Alumni Association.