Tuesday, June 10, 2014

All Eight and More

An Inkling
By my count eight generations were represented at the Davis family reunion picnic last Saturday, but only three came to the table when summoned.  We set up tables and chairs in the shade of the Catalpa tree in the old family cemetery, and enjoyed a feast and the leisurely telling of family stories, both recent and past.
Richard was surprised to realize that he’s now the Patriarch of the clan, but he readily offered our prayer.  At the younger end of the spectrum Jack, Hilton, and Susan hardly knew what to make of the moment – a picnic among stones that were described to them as graves of their great, great, etc grandparents.  They clearly didn’t yet have a grid for processing such information.
Sarah’s mom (the Davis side of the family) died when Sarah was just ten.  So just as she was getting old enough to ask family questions her primary source was gone.  But across the years, through cousins and other kinfolks, through genealogical work and visits to places like this Mount Valley family cemetery, we’ve learned a lot. 
And we’re still learning.  For example, this time we learned that a Confederate gun emplacement had been on the property, guarding a ford in the Rapidan River.  We also got to look 65 feet down the antebellum well, still flowing with plentiful water.
Many in the Davis clan were members of the Disciples Church just up the road.  In the sweet bye and bye it will be great fun to know them, and to learn about their lives with the Lord.
I trust that we’ll also get to know those whose graves were undoubtedly nearby, but unmarked, who had served as slaves in the Davis clan.  Their life stories will surely be fascinating, and their lives with the Lord even more so.
It’s one thing to repeat with the Creed, “I believe in the Communion of Saints…”  It’s another to explore the nearer reaches of that Communion in our own family.
On Saturday we glimpsed what we’ll know in full in the heavenly Kingdom.  And what a joy it will be when all eight generations (and more!) actually come when summoned to the table, along with the One at its head.
Blessings,

Keith