I recently found out one of my high school friends died unexpectedly. He was one of the good guys. Thinking about our time together in high school brought back great memories. Before I knew it, I was reliving some of my younger years.
I grew up in two small towns. The first was Dighton, Kansas, where I went from kindergarten to freshman year. Then, we moved to Syracuse, Kansas, in the middle of my sophomore year. Both towns were similar—small farming communities in western Kansas. Where I grew up, we left our doors unlocked, and our keys in the ignition, and no one thought anything about it.
The news of my friend reminded me of the small theater in Syracuse where we used to hang out. It had one screen and was only open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. My friends and I would spend most of our Saturday nights there. But what stands out most in both towns were the people. They were hard-working people of integrity. Some of my friends from that time are still dear to me even though we have not talked for years. These were the friends I grew up with.
Together, we learned what life was about. We grew in our independence and did some things right and some things wrong, but we enjoyed doing it together. There were both pressures and pleasures, failures and successes. I can remember one close friend whose parents went through a troubling divorce and another who lost his dad, but most days, we were kids being kids, enjoying what we could and trying to figure out the rest.
I would not want to go back to stay. I have a wife and family of my own now, and I could never live without them, but I would not mind going back. I do not mean visiting the towns where I grew up—most of my friends are no longer there. I mean, going back to my high school days.
My only goal would be to soak it in. Time goes by too fast. I would like to stand on the basketball court again and look the guys in the eyes as we prepare to take on another local school. I would like to sit with them one Friday night at the park with nothing to do—just doing what young guys do, laughing and wasting time.
I certainly have things I wish I would have done differently. I was far from perfect, as people could attest. Like most people at that age, I was young and inexperienced, and now that I have a few years under my belt, I realize just how little I knew. But I would not change it.
We all must come of age and learn, and western Kansas was a wonderful place to do it. We cannot go back, but that does not mean those years are still not alive in us. They make us who we are. I am thankful for the towns, friends, and memories that made me.
What is the point of all of this? I think what we need to remember as we reminisce is that the days we are living right now will pass just as quickly as those earlier days. Before we know it, our current moment will be memories from long ago. We must not neglect the present because we are too focused on the old days or working toward a better future. Our current moment involves pressures and pleasures, failures and successes like the old days, and they will soon be over. God has given us the gift of life. Be sure to soak it in.
-D. Eaton
The Fight of Faith 