"Friendship is Rare, Do You Hear What I'm Saying to Ya, Friendship is Rare..."

So there are two ways to look at this past weekend: it was one filled with fun and great times with friends, although I had a minor setback...OR this weekend started great, but as always, something blew up in my face, and reality kicked me in the butt to remind me that life should never be this good and it never will be. Confused? Let me give some background: A bunch of us decided to take the weekend off and travel to Chicago. I (in all of my infinite wisdom) decided to take my Honda because, well I love to drive everywhere, and I was gonna try and make my little cousin's 5th birthday party. All was going well for until Sat. afternoon, an afternoon in which the timing belt on my car snapped while I was driving it. Since it was late in the afternoon, no auto mechanics were open, leaving me stranded until Monday when they finished working on it. After a long day, I received a bill for around $800 and arrived back on my college campus at around midnight on Monday night. It was not fun, by any means. And i'm the kind of guy that lets the whole world know when im not happy. But as I sat in the mechanics shop on Monday, and drove home Monday night, I was confused, because I had a certain peace about the whole thing. I prayed about it, and pondered why this situation was different. God hit me so hard with the answer on that drive home that I just about (I didn't :) ) cried. The answer was so simple, yet I had missed it until then. It was my friends.

When my car broke down, I was surrounded by 6 of my friends, some of which were in the car with me. While they saw me in my prime, and by that I mean raging mad, they also helped to calm me. Ok, they also helped tick me off a little more, but thats ok, thats what friends are for, and later on we laughed about it. The truth is, i needed them there, i didnt show it, i didnt say it, but i did. I get so down sometimes by the crap that happens, and i forget that God has really blessed me with great friends. So here I get all down on life, and I forget that at least I have people who i can talk to about it, and laugh with. So I want to dedicate this entire post to my friends (now Im gonna leave people out, please dont be offended, I'm juts absent-minded).

Mike-Words can't describe how much you've been a rock for me. I've dumped so much of my troubles, worries, whatever, in your lap that I can't believe you haven't told me to shove off yet. Thanks man, and I really don't know what next year is gonna be like without ya, it scares the crap out of me.
Bryan- Man, what can i say? So many good times. I'm glad to see that you're happy, and it's on your terms. Don't forget about us here at the WU next year. More road trips, and microbursts, and whatnot!
Aaron- Can't believe you're gettin married...I'm just glad i can be there, and give the best man speech, which will be sweet!
Ben- good times in the apartment.
Mike B.-stud. nuff said.
GK- best friends since 7th grade...nothin will change that man.
Jeremy G.- My first accountability partner...thanks for everything..Job 31;1 man
Sara- thank you for being a great listener and encourager. It means more than you know. You inspire me.
Derek- You are the leader, in my mind, of the religion department for the class of 09. I look forward to asking you the tough questions that Mike has asked me for the last three years. Can't wait to work with you on hacking Sara off some more as well :)


So thats what I got...the best friends in the world. I have other friends too, and hopefully, those will grow stronger with time. Thanks God, for blessing me. Thanks to my friends for puttin up with my crap. I am lucky.