B.F.F’s PART 2 [MY BEST FRIEND IS BETTER LOOKING THAN YOUR BEST FRIEND]

I don’t know how everyone else become BFF’s with their BFF’s.
Me? I asked. Yes. 11 years ago, I literally started asking people if they wanted to be my BFF.

The first two people I asked said no. The 3rd said yes. His name is Royce Baker. We’ve been friends for 11 years since. We lived together for 5 of his 8 year undergrad studies...

I was his best-man and he was mine. We’re not like brothers. We’re brothers. We argue and fight. Sometimes we don’t make up until his wife texts me. Once we both wore the same shirt on purpose to cedar point. I’ve borrowed his underwear before. But that was a long time ago.

We’re both husbands and dads now so our relationship has changed, but he’s still there. I guess thats what I appreciate most about Royce. He’s always there. Always. And on top of that, chances are he’s better looking than your best friend so I keep him around and he keeps me around. Not just as a token black friend but as a BFF. A brother. For the long haul.

I assume that someday we’ll buy a house right next to each other, with a pool going across both our backyards. I also hope we do ministry together. Like Louie and Chris Tomlin, except more diverse. And 50 years from now, I can see us sitting with Liz and Ashley reminiscing about life together while our grand kids play Madden ’61.

Needless to say, I love having a BFF like Royce. But thats not the best part. The best part about having a BFF is not having a BFF. The best part is knowing that God loves and delights in our friendship. I don’t know if you know this or not but when God pictured his plans for your life, it involved deep meaningful relationships with people, meaning It glorifies him when people become BFF’s. And on top of that, its a complete blast to share life with a friend.  

So, having said that, what’s the sure fire way to get a BFF? Simple, You go after it. Like your life depended on it. Because it does. And I don’t mean sit in a room and pray about it. I mean go after it. Ask someone to coffee or a movie. Ask them to be your friend. Go deeper with your current ‘friends’. Be vulnerable. Take it a step further.

I know it sounds desperate and awkward but thats because it is. And if they say no, what does it matter in the long run? Do you think I would trade my friendship with Royce for a moment of no awkwardness 10 years ago? Besides, If I told you I buried enough cash in your yard to change your life, you wouldn’t sit in your room and pray about it. You wouldn’t be worried about looking desperate. You’d dig and dig. With your bare hands if you had to. For as long as you have to.

Are friends any less valuable?

It took me 3 tries. Might take you 100, but I guarantee you’ll never ever regret being intentional about friendships. Ever. So, stop reading this. Get offline and go pursue someone. In real life. Have a real conversation. Take a risk.

Who do you need to pursue this week? Why do you think its hard for us to just pursue people?
And why do you think its rare to find older men and women who still have consistent deep meaningful relationships outside of marriage?