Jack and I have been friends for a long time, thank God. For most of that time we were both secular, but for nearly a decade I was, and he wasn’t. We had our ups and downs given those differences, but mostly he stuck with me. Now, on the other side of things I look at him with such incredible affection and gratitude and appreciation, not just for those years spent in quiet encouragement and inspiration, but for all of the years ahead of us in mutual support, encouragement, and inspiration. It’s a really special sort of friendship, and it was fostered with a radiant heat. 

He never gave me the hard sell, he never talked down to me, he never really judged me. He disagreed with me, and there were hard moments, but only a few. Mostly he loved me for where I was at and held out hope that I might some day join him on the trail carrying my own cross. 

Had he given me a hard time, judged me, given me the hard sell, I’m not sure I would have made it where I am today spiritually. And that comes down to ONE person. Maybe my case is special, I think it probably is.

But whatever the case may be, I am thankful for Jack, enormously thankful then and now. Thankful for him, and a believer in the radiant burn of true, effective, evangelism.

Live it, be improved by it, and that’s it.