CoD V.1.6.5- Dave, and other thoughts...

Early in 2003, on a day like any other, in a weekday Bible Study, I met a young man named Dave (he's actually older than I am, ha!). Apparently when we first met he thought I was gay (I sing a lot!)(but had I been gay I'd sing in tune I'm sure...) but that misconception was soon clarified. Over the next few years, deprived of good friends and abandandoned by women (That's how bad I sing. He has smelly feet. Really smelly feet), ours grew into one of the closest and strongest friendships I have ever had.

We became prayer partners, stayed up all night playing Fifa Soccer video games and Halo, played actual soccer, hockey, football, volleyball, basketball (he got injured every single time- he's very delicate), ran triathlons together (he threw up a lot), went on crazy 100-km bike rides together (after a while we both had to stop and writhe on the ground in agony until our legs felt better), played Settlers, spoke about all kinds of issues and things (and men NEVER do that) etc, etc, etc.

In fact, from the late fall of 2003 to the summer of 2006, we likely hung out between 2 and 7 days every week (summer '06 he got a girlfriend, haha)(he had treatments for his feet)(I'm considering voice lessons...). Through 2004, when Shawn and I moved out together, Dave was our 'unpaid roommate'- he'd crash on the couch 5-6 nights every week (he also showered maybe 2 of those nights, and changed his socks on average once). If all that wasn't enough, there's also the fact that out of all the people I have ever met in my whole life, I dont think anyone's come closer to my strange sense of humour than Dave. In all this time together, I don't think we fought once.

A very wise man once wrote: "A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother". Dave was my friend.

This morning we dropped Dave off at the airport- he joined an organization whose name I've been asked not to mention - and was shipped off to this other place for 6 months of shoe-with-tall-ankles camp; so by the time he returns, I'll be gone. When I come back for my first furlough, he'll be posted somewhere in the middle of nowhere (it'll likely be flat and cold). So I dont know when I'll see him again, if ever (well, Heaven, but before that?).

This is the first time that the magnitude of the change I'm about to make hit me- I've been so excited in following God's call that I haven't really thought seriously about what I'm leaving behind. Now, I know that in God I have joy even through pain and loss, and I cling to that - God is my anchor; but there's still pain and there's still loss. Until Heaven.

So here's wishing you a blessed and God-glorifying career Nimrod- may you be a champion for God's love and real justice in a dark world and a fallen organization. May your light so shine before men that they may see your life, lived for Him, and praise your Father in Heaven.

-Death From Above (It's a Halo thing).