Priceless!

The theme of my summer seems to have been "reunions". In May, it was my 50th high school reunion in Nebraska followed in late July by my wife's extended family reunion held this year in Pomona, California near Los Angeles. Sharing and reliving fond memories from my high school days was a wonderful prelude to the time spent with family on the west coast. In reflecting on my time spent reconnecting with friends and family, I couldn't help but think about the popular MasterCard "priceless" ad campaign.

The very first MasterCard "Priceless" commercial was aired in 1997. As the story unfolds, a dad takes his son to a baseball game and pays for the tickets and a hot dog and drink, but the conversation between the dad and his eleven-year old son is priceless. "There are some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's MasterCard." As I'm sure many of you are aware, MasterCard has continued to add new episodes to this timeless, beloved ad campaign pretty much since it debuted more than 20 years ago.

For me, there were many "priceless" moments this summer: a conversation with a high school buddy recently diagnosed with Parkinson's, an evening of games and goofy antics during the family "talent show", a weekend watching a new generation drawn from different ethnicities and geographies build bonds of friendship over board games and cookies, a morning walk with my wife as we watched the sun rising to overcome the mists wafting ashore from the cool waters of the Pacific.

Digging a little deeper into the past, I can also pause and reflect on many "priceless" moments in my life as a member of our church: a mission trip with young children to tribal lands in Arizona, sharing life experiences with an adult talk group, watching our daughter and son go through confirmation, singing with the choir on Easter Sunday, contemplating a sermon that seemed to really hit home, praying and working with other members on a PNC, serving as an Elder....

I hope that as we approach the end of August, you've had many "priceless" moments to reflect on this summer, and more importantly, that in your life you've been able to experience moments as a Christian and as a member of First Presbyterian that you can cherish forever and always.

Blessings,

Elder Jerry Kahrs