Missing my friends

    We go through life coming in and out of peoples lives and sometimes we wonder why this friendship didn't work, or why this one did. Trying and working so hard to "make" friends. What does that even mean? We don't really "make" ANYTHING. We counterfeit everything we come in contact with, we mostly plagiarize great words and infringe on great music. We copy great recipes and live fake adventures through TV and movies.....Back to friends.
   I had one(a real friend). He's gone now, in eternity with his best friend Jesus.  Russ Bryant. Not Russ the Director, not Russ the Founder, not Russ the Emeritus. Just Russ. He showed me how to love simply by loving me. No gimmicks  no formulas, no magic Jesus dust, just honest, genuine beautiful grace. Not a perfect man, father or husband. Just a fellow sojourner willing to be simple and honest.
   Russ was the proverbial guy from the cartoons with the long white beard and the weathered face, overalls, and a pipe sitting in the rocking chair on the farmers porch of his quant little cabin, spinning truths into riddles and parables for us to try and figure out never really giving us the answer, but always just enough to help us find our own answers. I have searched for that guy all my life.
   So I then ask myself why does another great man die to early in my journey.
   My dad, Don Bancroft was killed when I was 23 yrs old. Just as was starting to get a clue and get a tiny bit of perspective as a young man.  Just as I was starting a family and my wife and I were expecting our first son. Hello God........what kind of crap is that.(more to come about my dad)
   So whats my point. I hope I don't always feel like I have to have a point in this blog process, my point today is I am ready to shake off, like a wet St Bernard, all the shallow relationships and disingenuous acquaintances and spend my very valuable time with those that are ready to go headlong into life and faith. The good the bad and the ugly of it. Those willing to poke me in the eye two knuckles deep and at the same time love me where I am.