Reflections: When you lose a good friend…

One of my dear friends died last week. He was 54 years old. Too young. Although, it’s always too young when you love someone.

I loved Steve.

Steve came into my life and almost instantly became a good friend. We met together every week, at the same time, on the same day, for several years. It was one appointment I looked forward to every time I saw it on my calendar.

I walked through seasons of life with him. He walked through seasons of life with me.

We talked marriage, (Both of us had great marriages thankfully.)

We talked about our children. (Both of us had great experiences as parents, thankfully.)

We talked about our work. He walked with me through the transition from secular vocation to ministry vocation. He walked with me through pastoring a church, and another, and the planting of a church. I walked with him through times of change in his church work and transitioning to a new church.

We traveled to conferences together. One time we were headed to a conference in California and the conference cancelled. We already had plane tickets and a hotel room, so we went anyway. We visited a dozen churches. I can still remember some of the things we learned on that trip. If was life changing for both of us. Mostly because we got to spend so much time together that week.

We played golf together. He was one guy who could get me out of the office and onto the golf course. I needed it. Steve was the consummate teacher, so he’d teach me something new about my golf swing every week.

We dreamed together. Steve always had a new idea about how to do ministry. I’m kind of wired that way too. It was a good partnership.

Mostly we just shared time with each other. It was nice knowing there was a guy I could always depend upon. We’ve lived in different cities for a while, but no matter how long it had been since we saw each other or talked, conversation was always easy with Steve.

I miss him. I miss him a lot.

My life is not the same because of Steve. My life won’t be exactly the same again.

Life is always different after you lose a good friend.

Thanks for being a good friend, Steve.