Honesty and Friendship
I’d like to take this time to name drop. No, people in Georgia, I’m not going to be talking about all of my famous connections here in Nashville. This post is for my good friends Bush and Eric and here’s why I’m talking about them today.
Last night Bush and Maris had us over for tacos and a hang, and on the 30 second drive home, I told Hannah how much I enjoy talking with them — every time. We discuss things that are going on in the world, the church, and our own individual lives, and usually controversial things are brought up (like race issues, money, and activism). I now really want to read about MLK’s life after hearing them talk about the first 10 pages of one of his books. I’m truly thankful for the great friendship we have with them and I know I would be a totally different person if they had not continually challenged my thinking over the last year or so.
Speaking of challenging, Eric has also played a large role in my life over the last 6 months or so. He is one of the most genuine people I know. We have a lot of the same struggles, strengths, and beliefs, so he’s a great friend to have around and work through life together. However, he’s experienced things in life I have never come close to (and no one in my extended family for that matter). This allows him to give honest advice and input from experience on topics that are often under-discussed in “Christian” culture and in families. I admire his diligence in the Word and his curious mind when it comes to thinking about Scripture. Thanks for your friendship and willingness to hang out with a mess like me…
Sometimes I look back on the way I used to think about race and shudder. Why did I think (and still do think) derogotory things about someone based solely on skin color? Why did I just say that about this person? Why do I still act this way? I’m not perfect now, that’s a work in progress thanks to the Grace of God in Christ. But I wanted to get this aired out now. The smallest racial puns/jokes/thoughts/nuances/slurs/etc now make my stomach turn. I’m repulsed. And these folks I mention today (along with the Ivey’s) have played a large part in my reformation of thought. I cannot thank you enough for helping to bring me to this new place.
Grace and peace.
you’re a good man clay wood. glad to have you guys in our lives. a true blessing.
stay away from eric brown…he smokes! can you believe that?
What? Eric smokes? Maybe he is just filling his temple with incense, as directed by the Lord. Okay, that comment probably negates everything you said here, but Clay, thanks for this post man. I’ve often told Ruth how grateful I am for our friendship. I’m looking forward to maybe, one day, you guys coming closer to East Nashville,so we can walk through more of this stuff together. You’re a good friend.