very morning pictures and posts pop up on my social media of events and thoughts that occurred in previous years. Recently, pictures from a lock-in twelve years ago were share and one stuck out to me due to the ridiculous nature of the content. This picture contained a dozen sleepy students wrapped in blankets in a church basement hallway. A few of those faces were of kids I had known since they were little and others were teenagers from another church led by a dear friend of mine about a mile south of us. The two groups had bonded during the previous summer at camps.

None of the above description is unique to church lock-ins. The same tableau has been created and recreated over many years and will continue into the future. However, what made this picture stand out was the four large stuffed fish that the students were holding. At some point in the past my friend’s church group had started to carry a large pillow type fish around at Youth events. I cannot remember the inspiration for this fish, but they adopted it as a mascot and our kids loved the idea. So of course we had to get some stuffed fish as well to adorn the youth room at church.

That is how we ended up with a picture of a dozen students and four large fish. I have no idea where those fish ended up. There have been several Youth Ministers and a complete remodel of the Youth area since that picture was taken. Everyone in that picture is now a full fledged adult and working out in the world. At least one of them is now a Youth Minister herself.

We need those touchstones in life. The silly and absurd to remember moments in our lives. It can be a song, a story, or a movie. It can be a restaurant, a school, or a painting. Take all the pictures and post them on your social media so that in future years can you can remember the good and the bad, not just the staged. Grab yourself a large pillow fish and take it with you to see old friends.