True Friends

Are you one of the blessed ones? I mean really blessed ones. No, not won the lottery blessed, or some "word of faith" prosperity nonsense off religious cable TV (how many physical transformations do some of those folks intend). I mean potentially life-changing blessed in that your life includes at least one, if not several friends, who love you enough to tell you the truth - the unvarnished, "You are so full of crap" (or yourself, which is essentially the same), when you are spouting off about how unfairly life is treating you (me), or behaving selfishly?

I hope so. I have discovered this interesting summer, I might be the most blessed person on the globe.

While transitioning through some personal and professional changes, some of my doing, others not, I have been reminded how special some of my longest-term friends are (Mack, Eldridge, Love, Petty, Lucas, Bryant and others), as well as, how special either friends from long past will return and speak grace and truth and how God provides new friends who He has moved into my life to speak both truth and mercy (Reeves, Duncan, Symington, Cuellar and others). These individuals listen to about three sentences of my yammering and then say things like, "You finished, that was rhetorical right? You aren't serious about that foolishness are you?" or, "Did you listen to any of what you just said AND its center. It was all about YOU. You do not you are not alone on the planet right?" Or, "Bart what do you mean pray for a miracle boy? We been praying for you for decades - the miracle is that you finally seem to be open to ideas God has had in mind for, oh, YOUR WHOLE LIFE." Or, my personal favorite - "Bart, let it GO(insert the IT of my choosing, including people). Hand the keys to God and step away from the car of life."

Are all these responses fun? Smoking pot? Of course not. Do I fight back? That was  a rhetorical question right? Almost every time, until very recently. (My buddy Kelly asked me recently, "Dude, how many times you gonna hit that bald head of yours with that 2x4?").

I have also had an opportunity to watch another surrounded by those who provide affirmation for a self and other destructive choice. Wow, it's been ugly. Know what's been ugliest about it? It is so clearly me for most of my adult life. And most sadly, it was entirely preventable (my actions I mean).

I had/have real friends who will tell me like it is - without regard for whether I like it or not. And, they have always been that way and available. That's why I started keeping secrets. I knew my friends. Had I shared what was in my weak, dark heart - they'd have told me the truth. Didn't want to hear it so I either kept it a secret (after all, what did they know), or found acquaintances who would confirm idolotry because it was easier for them, or confirmed their own insecurities or past poor choices. Now that's a happening crowd.

To every friend, loved one, or stranger who has every told me I was full of it . . . thank you for your love and grace. Collectively, you have saved my life. I was late in getting it. However, as the song says, because of you, "I will never be the same again."

God bless each of you and your hard, truthful words.