This post will draw to a conclusion my series on my friend Mike. I have been trying my best to humiliate him online as he is busy preparing for his wedding this weekend. I want to just touch briefly on some of the reasons we have managed to stay close over many years and an indescribable amount of life changes.
The first, and single most important reason, is that Mike is responsible for leading me to Jesus Christ. I have told that story on this blog before, so I won't go into it again, but I believe that creates a bond that is difficult to break. More than that, Mike & I have journeyed together spiritually since that day. Many times, we took the same path, and often we took very different ones. But somehow we took them together (if that makes sense {it doesn't}). I know that we each have incredible respect for the spiritual journey the other has taken. We sometimes disagree on the path, but never the destination. And although he is my friend no matter what, it brings me immeasurable joy to again call him my brother in Christ.
I could go into countless other reasons, but they largely all involve time. We simply have spent a TON of time together. From having the same classes, to soccer teams, baseball teams, marching band, church, living together, group dates, mountain biking (on those huge Indiana mountains), disc golf, late night & early morning conversations about life, car rides, ping pong, road trips, and doing terrible things to our neighbor's house in middle school, I've seen enough of that hairy monster to last a lifetime. This may seem a trivial point to make, but the fact is that time is the most important part of a relationship to me. I am not a fast friend, the guy who knows everyone and is known by everyone. I don't say that proudly, but it's the truth. However, I love investing in meaningful, long-term relationships, and this one certainly qualifies!
So, in conclusion... Mike- I love you buddy. I've been blessed tremendously by your friendship. If you enjoy marriage half as much as I do, you are going to have a great time, and I look forward to seeing the two of you grow together.
OK enough of the sweet stuff. Here's what I've got left...
Oh yes, these ARE his senior pictures...
I suppose it's only appropriate to bring in the pictures that embarass both of us...1991
Somehow my brother, who is the tallest of all of us, appears in this picture to be a midget.
2 comments:
Hi Dan and Nancy! I read your blog all the time (pastor Jim gave me the link). So glad to hear you guys are doing so well. Pastor Jim came to IN to marry me off 8-11-07 so that´s pretty wild! I´ve been living in Sevilla, Spain the past three years and my hubby is Spanish. I teach ESL. That´s my update! ha. Blessings! Sara Fisel
Danno, you are as true a friend as there could be. I value your friendship for a multitude of reasons; perhaps most of all, I know that I will always have it. You have been a friend through every circumstance-- for that, I am forever grateful. I love you too buddy.
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