Last Saturday was nostalgia day. In the afternoon I had the privilege of speaking to a group of VCF (Varsity Christian Fellowship) alumni who were in college in the 1970s and ’80s. Shared some thoughts on leaving a legacy of faith. In the evening I was at a reunion dinner for former residents of King Edward 7th Hall (KE Hall) which was, at that time, for doctors, dentists, engineers, and pharmacists.
This was the original KE Hall that was located next to Singapore General Hospital, not the present one in the Kent Ridge Campus. I lived in KE Hall from 1974–1978. There were many of us from Malaysia then and KE Hall was our home away from home. Medicine, dentistry, engineering, pharmacy — these were intense courses and the KE family helped keep us sane.
It was a great evening meeting old friends and seeing video presentations of some of the high jinks we got up to 50 years ago. The evening was too short. As old memories surfaced, mixed feelings emerged and, as we time travelled, the evening was over before we knew it.
I was a bit tense during dinner because there was a request for me to sing a song. This was understandable because I used to be a singer in the KEViians, the college band. I chose to sing the old Carole King hit, “You’ve Got as Friend”, though I am more familiar with the James Taylor rendition. There was no rehearsal and so I just belted it out. Folks said it was ok, which is a miracle of sorts since I haven’t sung in a band for almost 50 years.
I guess it was appropriate that I did something from my days in the band. I think that was the part of hall life I enjoyed the most. I remember with great joy the band practices. It was such fun to be performing at various hall functions. And there was always the post-performance chillin’ over supper and beer. Why were the times in the band so powerful? Because they provided experiences in key areas that made us human.
First was community. Band members belonged to a group. We were members of the KEViians. It was a select group of six or seven. Spending so much time together meant we became friends; friends who watched out for each other. Next, it was a community with purpose — we made music together and it gave us great joy to see how our music gave joy to others. And, of course, sharing food and drink always draws people together.
Remembering our days in the band also brought back sad memories. There were at least three band members who had passed on. First there was Sunny Goh. He had a fantastic vocal range and a powerful voice. His singing blew you away. He was the main singer. I was the no. 2 singer. He has since passed on. The greatest shock was the passing of Ranjan. Not only was he a great guitarist, but he was also one of the friendliest chaps around. He too is gone. Then there was Elliot Yoong, a senior member of the band. I was always a bit scared of him. Apart from being my senior, he also gave off tai-gor (big brother) vibes. He too is gone. We will never be able to get the band together again. No, we can’t go back in time.
But there is a place to remember, and to remember with gratitude. Most of us were grateful for the years we spent in KE. It is right that we take time out once in a while to remember with gratitude, though each subsequent reunion will see fewer people.
To be truly human, then, we need something more than community and purpose. We need to have something to look forward to in our life journeys. Otherwise, we will be consigned to just looking back. But what if everything good in this life is but a foretaste and prelude to something better? And permanent? What if everything good in this life is just to whet our appetite for something better and permanent?
I note that many metaphors of heaven are about reunion dinners. Here is a prophecy from Isaiah:
On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare
a feast of rich food for all peoples,
a banquet of aged wine—
the best of meats and the finest of wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations;
he will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken.
(Isaiah 25:6–8 NIV)
I don’t know how many more KE reunion dinners I will be a part of. But there will be a reunion dinner at the end of it all. Death will not be there. All the people who matter will be there.