Baltimore...

I have some great people in my life. Those I call in times like I've suffered through recently. Those I lean on when things are rough; those I celebrate with when things are great. There is a short list of people who are in a type of inner circle. I've opened my life up to them. I share the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Most of the time we hide the bad and the ugly. People ask how we are and the answer is always "I'm good, how are you?" Well sometimes I'm not so good and these people know it. The great thing is that they are the ones that even understand when my "I'm good, how are you?" means that I'm not so good.

I am one of the lucky ones - my parents are on this list. They have become great friends and mentors in life. I am lucky to have the relationship that I have with them.

As I've written many times before, I was also fortunate enough to walk into a small group of these people while in Waco. They are my inner circle. They are the type of people that I drive hours out of the way to spend minutes with. They are friends in the truest sense of the word. They are church like I have never seen or lived in the midst of before or since.

Rarely are we all united together. We were several weeks ago as I commuted back from Phoenix to Kentucky. I'm not sure when we'll all be together again. We usually strive for New Years. The group has become 7...three couples and me. There is something unique about this circle of friends. I'm not even sure how to find the words to explain it. What I know is that they restore my soul. They reignite my spirit.

Next week won't be a reunion of all of us. But I'll get to be with Mark and Missy. I cherish opportunities to be with the two of them. Mark has an ability to always speak great words of wisdom into my life. He helps me remember things I've forgotten - things about myself, things about God, things about life, things about my call, just things. And Missy is a phenomenal host. Coleen, her mother, has passed the gift on. It is great to be in their home. To share meals, to share stories, to share laughs, to share tears.

I'm excited for the week ahead. I even get to ride a train for the first time. Should be fun!