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
