As Life Goes On

Today I had the privilege to see one of my best friends in the world walk across the stage at UT's graduation. In that moment a skinny bespectacled kid I met when I was eleven and he was eight became a skinny no longer bespectacled grown man with his life ahead of him and a bachelors in journalism.

Gage Arnold has been there for me since my junior year of high school. Nearly seven years later and he has seen me through countless low points and highs. I've cried with him, prayed with him and for the past four years had many text conversations when he wasn't at home. Mundane topics and serious ones were intermingled with sports talk and the occasional comment about Anna Kendrick. 

Most of the time I refer to him as brother. He might not have been born into my family but he is my brother in all sense of the word.  He has been referred to as brother number 5 by my sister for years. In Greek the word for brother is adelphos, meaning both blood relation and one who is in Christ. Since I've known him I've had the immense privilege to be spurred on in my walk with God by him and I hope vice versa. 

When life gets confusing it's usually Gage that I go to. He's the one who will pray with me and give me advice and just listen to me rant and ramble about what is going on. Those times are quite regular and it's surprising that he still has ears. Likewise it's been great over the years to be able to share with him his own triumphs and valleys. Witnessing how God was moving throughout his life in college as opportunities were placed before him to write for the Daily Beacon and The Knoxville News Sentinel and a trip to Sweden with CRU has been truly amazing. 

In a few months he will start another chapter in his life as this one ends. He will be writing again, this time in Nashville. Life will go on and new experiences will be made. He will no doubt be grown and have a great time doing it. When that chapter ends there is no knowing where he will go next and I cannot wait to watch where God will take this brother of mine next both in his career and in his daily walk with Christ. 

It's exciting to see my friends move on and watching their lives unfold. Though I often wonder where mine will take me and when it will begin. I look forward to many more years of doing life with my best friend and many more talks as life goes on.