I most certainly did not listen to the popular group Peaches and Herb in the ‘70’s.  But the girls I ran around with did.  My friend Elizabeth frequently rode to school with me in the mornings.  As she put her makeup on the car while I drove, she would say:  “Turn it up!  I love that song!”  The song “Reunited” from Peaches and Herb was one of those turn it up songs.  It was sweet and syrupy. The chorus rang out: “reunited and it feels so good.”  It no doubt appealed to the hearts of 16 year old girls. 

When I was 16 or 17, I had no clue that reuniting would become such a prominent experience in my adult life.  I suspect there were two reasons for such for being so naïve in that regard.  At that age, I didn’t understand that relationships are priceless.   And at the time I did not comprehend the sheer amount of interpersonal brokenness that exists in people’s lives.

This past weekend I was reminded that reuniting feels so good… A friend and fellow student with me in the master’s program in Mental Health Counseling met up with her brother for the first time in her adult life.  She has been on a journey for the past several months searching for her family.  That journey culminated Sunday with a meeting with her brother that she did not know existed until recently.  The picture of the two of them on facebook brought tears to my eyes.  The look on their faces was priceless.  The power of reuniting was evident.  

A number of years ago I watched the movie Antwone Fisher.  It is based on a true story. There really is a man named Antwone Fisher.  He is a poet and speaker among other things.  The movie chronicles his journey to find his family.   He was separated from them at a young age and subsequently raised in an abusive foster home.  The story of course is true, so consequently it is not all pretty.  But the final scene in that movie is one of the most powerful endings to a motion picture that I have ever seen.  I won’t ruin it for you, but I would encourage you to see the movie. 

But more importantly, I would urge you not postpone the process of reuniting.  Is there a family member you need to find?  Or have you lost contact with a dear friend?   I have reconnected with friends and family alike over the last several years.  The experience has been indescribable.  In a world full of brokenness, reuniting restores our hearts and brings us peace.  What a joy it has been to watch a friend find her brother.   There is just nothing quite like it.

I did not. I repeat I did NOT listen to Peaches and Herb in the 1970’s, but thanks to Elizabeth and others forcing me to turn up the radio I still recall the chorus that rings out…”.reunited  and it feels so good….”