There are certain advantages to being around a long time.

While attending the 25th anniversary last week of Michael Blackwell's presidency of Baptist Children's Homes--a truly noteworthy tenure both for its longevity through denominational tumult and for achievements during the term--I had the unanticipated pleasure of renewing acquaintances begun when my hair was still brown.

I worked at BCH 1987-1999 and grew close to many staff and trustees. Of course, most are gone during these two decades, but many with sticking power for the long term were at the anniversary celebration and I got to touch base with them.

Jeanette and Clay Bollinger from Hudson hosted my daughter Erin and I after church at least 13 years ago when Erin still thought it was cool to travel with dad and maybe luck into an ice cream cone after enduring another message from James 1:27.  Jeanette rushed up for a hug and to ask about Erin. She was as thrilled to hear as I was to tell that she is a college graduate, married to a High Point fireman and due with my second grandson in January.

Before I had a chance to tell Erin that Jeanette had asked about her, Erin already had received a card from her in the mail.

Ted Chandler, one of Baptist Children's Homes' proudest alumni stories, dressed in coat and tie for work at Baptist Hospital where he is involved in teaching and research. He is writing novels, has an account of his life growing up at Mills Home in the hands of a movie agent and is creating a healthy lifestyle system for launch in churches. He's 80 years old.

Linda Morgan, who was a spark plug at Baptist Children's Homes 10 years before Blackwell arrived and who brags about teaching him everything he needed to know, now leads the BCH western area services. Her megawatt smile still says to every child and adult she meets, "I love you, and you are safe here."

Jennie Counts, who preceded me by a single day and stayed seven years longer, has a new haircut, a new MBA and new eagerness to find her next niche in service.
 
Mills Home alumnae and retired teacher Lib Johnson looks younger than when I helped recruit her to write the alumni column for Charity & Children in 1992 and she's still writing it.

When trustee Angus Mercer of Charlotte said hello, my wife Sue Ellen recounted her memory of his speeches delivered in support of the second BCH capital campaign I was involved with. He was so touched by his own message to potential donors that every time he spoke he added to his pledge until he became a million dollar donor before it was over. At age 81 he is still a strong supporter and trustee.

Current Trustee Chair Jim Goldston, still laughs remembering how his then elementary school aged daughter Molly told me--loudly--that I was in her chair, when I had plopped there while moving around to photograph her father speaking during a BCH event. She had temporarily left and didn't like it a bit to find her chair occupied upon her return.

Numerous others mentioned my writing in Charity & Children, which I edited for 12 years. And, bless their hearts, they read the Biblical Recorder, too.

Several retired Baptist State Convention folks were there, including Doug Cole and Bill Boatright. We sat at the same table and talked about how things were and are and will be. There is probably not a single area of life for anyone in which the "were and are and will be" are the same in all three stages. And that's a good thing.

Former President Jimmy Carter in 1998 published a surprisingly delightful book called The Virtues of Aging. In it he lists many delights of getting older, including the opportunity to enjoy friendships that have endured over many years.

New friends are wonderful, Christmas morning surprises. Long-time friends are gifts which reveal new treasures with every opening.