Birthdays

Two days ago I discovered my car’s fortieth birthday party to be a celebration of the lives of people sharing a common vision, dedication and attention to details, and love life.  The 100 cars hand assembled were important but only as metaphoric vehicles to conversations. 
 
It seems that a small handful of men shared a common dream.  Initially the factory was just a dozen, possibly fifteen.  Derrick was a young lad at the center, apprentice to the master.  Grant, Eric (Sparky), and others made up the group.  Most of the core group was mere kids; linked to words like na?ve, innocent, and trusting.  They shared a belief in one man, Jim Keeble, believed in his vision with a passion to win.     
 
I listened to the group talk; of old days when working was something you lived for because you believed it to be good and true.  I came away thinking it wasn’t the olds days as in a period of time.  Rather it was the old days when they, the team, were part of a family.  Yesterday that family was together again.  You could see and feel emotions coming back unasked and unaided. 
 
I never meet the key leaders in person.  I have not met their sons, daughters, and those they passed on the vision to.  Because of this I sense that I know the men who started the story but are not here to finish it.
 
God, Jesus, had a vision and a mandate.  “This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole.  This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life.  My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion of time.”  (John 6.39, 40)
 
We can be part of this vision and this family.