Ride or Die or From The Roof
There are two men in my life whom I would go to war with—literally. I served in the Iraqi war with one of them. These are the kind of friends who would drop everything and come to my aid if I called in the middle of the night. One of these men is my twin brother, Kyle, and the other is my best friend, Tylor Jones.
From the moment I was born, I’ve never been alone. Having a twin brother means always having someone watching your back. I’ve never had to question Kyle’s loyalty or whether he has my best interests at heart. He’s always been there for me, and I’ve always been there for him.
When I met Tylor Jones nearly a decade ago, I never imagined I’d be gaining one of the best friends I could ever ask for. During the fallout from my past mistakes, when many people turned away, Tylor and my family stood by me, even through the darkest times.
It’s not that Tylor has always agreed with my choices. In fact, he’s been quick to tell me when he thinks I’m being foolish. But his love and support have never wavered, regardless of my actions. Friendships like this are rare, and I treasure it deeply.
One of my favorite stories of friendship comes from the synoptic gospels. It’s the story of the men who lowered their paralyzed friend through a roof to get him in front of Jesus. The house was so crowded they couldn’t get in through the door, so they created an opening in the roof instead.
All three gospel writers note that when Jesus saw the faith of these friends, He forgave the paralyzed man’s sins. It wasn’t just the man’s own faith, but the faith of his friends that moved Jesus. This always astounds me and reminds me how crucial our roles are in each other’s lives—not just for our physical well-being, but for our spiritual health as well.
Everyone needs a friend like Kyle, Tylor, or the men in that gospel story. Do you have a friend like this? Are you that friend for someone else? If you’re anything like me, there will come a time when you desperately need them. I promise you someone needs you too.
