Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
I watch my friends continue to grow.
Travis is getting better and better at his career. It's really fun to talk with him about teaching and hear his perspective. It gets me more and more excited for the challenge myself. It's also really great to see him very happy in a relationship. Although this past winter was so difficult for me it's good to see my friend hear my grief, learn from my mistake, and finally step out and take the risk that is required for a relationship to work and grow. As long as I've known Travis he's always been awkward and hesitant towards women. People would try to set him up with friends. He would feel so uncomfortable in certain situations. Then this past weekend for Holly's birthday I'm sitting across from them at the bar watching them drunkenly make out in public. Although I found it gross and classless I can't help but also feel joy for my friend and the growth he's experienced. We've been friends for over 15 years.
Jared continues to sharpen his craft. It's good to see his house sell and another step in the process of closing that chapter of his life starting over since the divorce. It's also great to watch Jared change from the party animal getting kicked out of bars and drunken fights to the more chill relaxed person attempting to quit habits he no longer wants in his life. He's also been with Hil for a minute now, it's encouraging to see a friend get up and take that risk again. I remember when we got in that fight under the bleachers during a basketball game. I was maybe in first grade. To start our relationship with a fight as kids and to become friends as he's about to turn 30 in August.
Baldygams moving in with Sam and the two of them continuing to grow together. I love watching them interact. Their relationship works so perfectly even though it isn't what I want for myself it's awesome to see two people come together like this. Matt has been in so many rough relationships it's great to see how the two of them are growing together. It makes me really happy to see my friend find someone who can appreciate the things he has to offer.
Alan continuing another year pastoring his congregation. Listening to the man talk about issues that deeply concern him. Hearing his beliefs and watching his life reflect the convictions. Watching him complete all of that schooling and to return home to pour into the city he has always loved. Alan has always been a strong leader. When I met him he was a camp officer and now he is on the other side as a camp counselor. We are getting ready to celebrate our 10 year anniversary as friends in a couple weeks.
Brian growing and struggling with the pressures of his taxing job. Hearing the broad strokes of the sort of cases he comes face to face with every day. Listening to a guy I've known since we were in at least second grade now become his man responsible for the care and spiritual direction of parents and families in a most vulnerable time.
Downing as he attempts to move to Columbus and plug into our community we have been building in the city. Listening to his career ambitions while still making me laugh harder than anyone else can. I remember when he first moved to Wauseon in first grade. We were in the same class and even then he was the funniest kid in the school.
And Dain, I worry about Dain but I also realize the man wants a different life than maybe the one I want for him. He is walking his own path and I want to love him along the way. I don't want to lose connection with him. I hope no matter the path that he is truly happy.
My friends.
They know me better than my family.
They are my family.
I don't like to show everyone who I am. Only those I really love will ever really know me. To be known is to spend time together. To do life together. To witness each other come to crossroad after crossroad and choose a path. To come face to face with hardships and see who we are. What we do. I love making my friends laugh. I love putting them ahead of everything else. But they know me. They know who I am when we are one on one. They truly know me.
People come and go in our lives. They might know me for a season but who we are is such a fluid thing. Who I am today shapes who I will be tomorrow but by no means is that the same person. It's only those who stick around for the journey that truly know me. It's only those who lived my past with me that know why I am who I am. It is our past that creates our present. And it is our present self who creates our future.
Someday I will have a wife and she will know me more deeply than anyone else could ever imagine. But my friends will know who I was that lead to who I became with her.
And everyone else will only know the shadow of who I once was in that window of time we crossed paths of life.
To be known.
What a strange and powerful thing.
Do any other living things feel such a deep desire to be known?
People will know I love them if they really know me.
That is how we express love.
We express love by being known by those we really love.
Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
...Soon we'll be thirty years old
Lukas Graham - 7 Years
I watch my friends continue to grow.
Travis is getting better and better at his career. It's really fun to talk with him about teaching and hear his perspective. It gets me more and more excited for the challenge myself. It's also really great to see him very happy in a relationship. Although this past winter was so difficult for me it's good to see my friend hear my grief, learn from my mistake, and finally step out and take the risk that is required for a relationship to work and grow. As long as I've known Travis he's always been awkward and hesitant towards women. People would try to set him up with friends. He would feel so uncomfortable in certain situations. Then this past weekend for Holly's birthday I'm sitting across from them at the bar watching them drunkenly make out in public. Although I found it gross and classless I can't help but also feel joy for my friend and the growth he's experienced. We've been friends for over 15 years.
Jared continues to sharpen his craft. It's good to see his house sell and another step in the process of closing that chapter of his life starting over since the divorce. It's also great to watch Jared change from the party animal getting kicked out of bars and drunken fights to the more chill relaxed person attempting to quit habits he no longer wants in his life. He's also been with Hil for a minute now, it's encouraging to see a friend get up and take that risk again. I remember when we got in that fight under the bleachers during a basketball game. I was maybe in first grade. To start our relationship with a fight as kids and to become friends as he's about to turn 30 in August.
Baldygams moving in with Sam and the two of them continuing to grow together. I love watching them interact. Their relationship works so perfectly even though it isn't what I want for myself it's awesome to see two people come together like this. Matt has been in so many rough relationships it's great to see how the two of them are growing together. It makes me really happy to see my friend find someone who can appreciate the things he has to offer.
Alan continuing another year pastoring his congregation. Listening to the man talk about issues that deeply concern him. Hearing his beliefs and watching his life reflect the convictions. Watching him complete all of that schooling and to return home to pour into the city he has always loved. Alan has always been a strong leader. When I met him he was a camp officer and now he is on the other side as a camp counselor. We are getting ready to celebrate our 10 year anniversary as friends in a couple weeks.
Brian growing and struggling with the pressures of his taxing job. Hearing the broad strokes of the sort of cases he comes face to face with every day. Listening to a guy I've known since we were in at least second grade now become his man responsible for the care and spiritual direction of parents and families in a most vulnerable time.
Downing as he attempts to move to Columbus and plug into our community we have been building in the city. Listening to his career ambitions while still making me laugh harder than anyone else can. I remember when he first moved to Wauseon in first grade. We were in the same class and even then he was the funniest kid in the school.
And Dain, I worry about Dain but I also realize the man wants a different life than maybe the one I want for him. He is walking his own path and I want to love him along the way. I don't want to lose connection with him. I hope no matter the path that he is truly happy.
My friends.
They know me better than my family.
They are my family.
I don't like to show everyone who I am. Only those I really love will ever really know me. To be known is to spend time together. To do life together. To witness each other come to crossroad after crossroad and choose a path. To come face to face with hardships and see who we are. What we do. I love making my friends laugh. I love putting them ahead of everything else. But they know me. They know who I am when we are one on one. They truly know me.
People come and go in our lives. They might know me for a season but who we are is such a fluid thing. Who I am today shapes who I will be tomorrow but by no means is that the same person. It's only those who stick around for the journey that truly know me. It's only those who lived my past with me that know why I am who I am. It is our past that creates our present. And it is our present self who creates our future.
Someday I will have a wife and she will know me more deeply than anyone else could ever imagine. But my friends will know who I was that lead to who I became with her.
And everyone else will only know the shadow of who I once was in that window of time we crossed paths of life.
To be known.
What a strange and powerful thing.
Do any other living things feel such a deep desire to be known?
People will know I love them if they really know me.
That is how we express love.
We express love by being known by those we really love.
Cause only those I really love will ever really know me
...Soon we'll be thirty years old
Lukas Graham - 7 Years