An overview of the last 52 weeks

On July 1, 2011, I was attempting to sleep in a hotel room in Birmingham, Ala. It was about 9:45 p.m. CT. I got a phone call originating from a hotel room in Golden, Colo., from Jamie (aka Cosmo) and several other young ladies getting ready for a night out in Denver. 


"I just called to tell you that Katie has tinkle hands," was all I got on the other side of the call. 


"Tinkle Hands" was a term used in abundance throughout the weekend and the ensuing weeks and months thereafter. I still think back on that phone call with a huge grin on my face. 


The next morning, July 2, I woke up at 4:15 a.m. and got to the Birmingham airport to fly out to Denver, Colo., to spend a weekend with a bunch of folks that I hadn't met before. We had talked plenty and spent months planning this weekend, but it was still kind of surreal to know that the trip was really happening. My biggest fear was that the trio of girls designated to pick me up at DIA would, in fact, be there. 


My girls (Jamie, Janel and Melissa) were there and, despite some claims that I was "lost" upon arrival, we got my weekend started off on the right foot with a fun birthday gift exchange, a tie on my head and a terrific sign that stated "ThatGuy" for me to wear around Denver throughout the day. 



That weekend changed my life. We're not talking about kinda, sorta, maybe change. I'm describing a completely different mindset and walking away from a place that made you sad to leave and fully charged for a new and improved walk with Christ. 


The past 52 weeks have flown by. It's hard to believe that tomorrow is Janel's birthday and the trip happened a full calendar year ago. Heck, we even got an extra day in between thanks to 2012 being a leap year, but that didn't slow down how fast this year went. 


This group of Friends in Mile High Places mean the absolute world to me. I wouldn't trade any of them for anything. They offer encouragement, love, devotion and support to me no matter my mood or state of mind. There have been a handful of down moments in the last 12 months, but I generally have a smile on my face through just about anything thanks to knowing that my girls or Jacob (aka Honey Bear) or Brandon (aka Cuddle Cakes) or Chad (aka F3-fitty) or Sam (aka Samster) are just a text away. 


Our friendship is so strong because it is centered on Christ. God brought us all together through one of the strangest media and made sure that we found each other at the right moments. I cannot explain or describe how incredibly awesome He has been to all of us throughout the process of our group's bond strengthening. 


On that Sunday (July 3), we attended a service at Red Rocks Church - a sanctuary nestled in the heart of an old theme park (or Ghetto Disneyland as one of the pastors likes to call it). I was excited to go because I heard that the pastor loved to talk about bacon, and - let's be honest - who doesn't like to hear people talk about bacon? However, I could not prepare my heart enough for what happened throughout the course of that morning. 


We attended a sermon in the I Am Second series - Bethany Hamilton's, if you're so inclined to look it up on YouTube. By the time Chad finished up his talk, my spiritual batteries were more charged than they have been in years (if not ever). I was so caught off guard that I had a hard time putting into words (something that these folks didn't know was possible) how I felt. Just incredible how God moved within me and within us. 


That night after other activities had wrapped up, we went out to Janel's (aka Journey) house in Littleton to just hang out and play games. There were laughs during the game (Apples to Apples - or at least the Friends in Mile High Places version of this ageless classic card game), but the time afterwards on Janel's back porch was the most awesome moment of the trip to me. 


Remember with youth group trips how there was always that one time of devotion and bearing of souls that had you leaving the trip on a spiritual high? We're all adults, but it was one of those moments. I learned so much about these individuals just by sitting and listening that I had a new-found positive perspective on my life that had always been there yet never fully realized. 


Exactly 52 weeks after hearing the I Am Second sermon, I had a small part reinforced tonight at Origins - a church that I have zero doubt will become my church home here in Tupelo. "I don't know what true persecution feels like," was one of the pastor's hot spots tonight in his sermon. That night in Littleton, Colo., I realized I didn't know what true persecution feels like either. 


There were folks that had been ridiculed by others in their hometowns. There were folks that had been homeless. There were folks that suffered more loss in three months than I've had to deal with in nearly 30 years. There were folks who had a not-so-fine and dandy family life behind the scenes. Despite these travesties, every single one of them had a better outlook on their spiritual life and trusted God more than I did to bring them through anything and everything.


Something just didn't seem right about that to me. 


A lot of these feelings and emotions have been held inside for 365 days. I'm pretty open and honest with this group, and they may read this and realize a lot of this stuff for the very first times. Their examples, however, have helped kickstart this incredible journey (a beautiful journey, even) that I've been taking since getting back on the airplane to return to the dirty South. 


Katie (aka Tinkle Hands): You were a late addition to the trip, and she was my easily one of my favorites to come out. I know we're not supposed to have favorites in life, but dang it, she's one of mine. Tinkle Hands has a lot going on that I wish I could help more, but there is only one who can. I look at her and know that, no matter what, God is going to pull us through. Her smile and her incredible heart are just a couple of examples of God's love for us because (I think I speak for everyone when I say) we're better people because Tinkle Hands is in our life. Thanks, Katie, and I love you more than you could ever know. 


Cuddle Cakes, formerly known as J-Fizzle: you were the first to jump on board with this trip when the initial planning commenced. You offered to help split a hotel cost with me, and I'd be honored to call you a travel roommate any time. The talks we had in Sam's basement made me respect you so much - you have no idea. You have a special place in my heart, and I consider you one of my closest and dearest friends. You're my brother forever, and I hope you never, ever change. Love you buddy.


Honey Bear: I can't even begin to describe how much respect I have for you. From your job to your struggles that life has given you, you never compromise your belief and you never back down from your leadership qualities. I'm so glad that you're back on U.S. soil and we get a chance to talk much more often because of it. The Derby trip just reinforced what I know is a lifelong friendship, and I can't wait to hang out more this summer. Thanks for everything you do in your job and in your role as one of the best friends anyone could ever ask for. I love you, bro. 


Fitty: We didn't hang out nearly enough on this trip. Luckily, we have made up for it since. There is no better karaoke partner in crime out there, and he sure does know how to make the ladies swoon when belting out Tim McGraw lyrics. Don't ever leave home without your photo ID again, but I'm glad you did that one time because I think that trip together was the turning point in our friendship. The example of Christ's love and your ability to continuously do things the right way in all walks of your life are two of the things that mean the most to me. I also can't tell you how much growth I can see in you from 52 weeks ago to now. (Of course, I think we both know who to mostly thank for that.) I'm honored and privileged to call you my friend and my brother, and I cannot wait for you to get to the dirty South so we can hang out more. Love you, buddy. 


Samster: Your generosity, your ability to see the good in everyone and your unending supply of Godly advice set you apart from everyone else in my life. The fact that we have chilled out in your old basement twice and you never asked for a dime just reinforces everything I just said. I hate you're not in Denver any more, but I know that I have a friend no matter where either of us end up. I'm still your biggest fan and got nothing but love for you, brother. 


Matt (aka RockyMountainMatt): Your wealth of knowledge astounded me. You fit right into the group for the little bit that you were there, and I'm so honored you were a part of the final night and my favorite part of the weekend. I hate that we haven't talked very much, but I know that you're an incredible person and an incredible guy, and I wish you and Charlotte nothing but the best in the future. 


Melissa (aka Turbo): I wasn't lost upon arrival, for the record. Just because you couldn't find me right away doesn't mean it was my fault. I was very specific in my description of where I was, and you found me based on that description further reinforcing my point that I was not lost. 


With that out of the way, I love you and our friendship more than you will ever know. You came into my life at the exact right moment, and I couldn't be the person I am without my BP. You probably know me as well as anyone else in my life, and I cannot thank you enough for sticking by me through thick and thin. You're family now and you always will be as far as I'm concerned. You're a shining ray of God's love, and I hope you never ever change. 


(By the way, I've been thinking about what to write here for three weeks and I'm still tearing up getting to this part.) 


Journey: I'm so thankful to have been a part of your birthday last year. I have so much I could say, but the moment that touched me more than any other on the weekend was your admission that this was the first one you had away from your family. Knowing that I was getting to be a part of that, a momentous occasion no doubt, made every worry and every fear I had leading up to the trip fade away. Every morning, I thank God in my prayer that He put you in my life to challenge me and keep me on the road I'm traveling as well as encourage me when I need it most. 


Whatever kind of friend you need me to be, I hope you know that I will never back down from that role. I love you more than you know, and I hope this year's birthday tops last year's. 


Cosmo: Ah, my lovely chauffeur. Before the trip, you were by far my best friend in the group. We have had our ups and downs, but I still think you hold that distinction today. I'll never be able to really describe how much you mean to me. I know that there isn't anything I can't go to you and talk to you about, something that I will never take for granted. Please, never let the world change your smile and know that I'm here for you however you need me to be. I love you so, so much. 


If you talked to me a year ago, you'd find a generally happy guy that maybe had something that just seemed to be off. This trip fixed that. These people fixed that. 


My job is better. I'm reading my Bible daily, and I'm praying much more consistently than I ever have before. I enjoy the little things in life more than I ever did before the trip, and I do my absolute best to spend as much time outside looking up at the stars and the moon at night whenever the opportunities present themselves. 


My smile is from ear-to-ear most of the time. I like to say that I smile so loud, folks can hear it. I know that if I can't smile, I need to just keep swimming because I know there's light at the end of the tunnel. That light, more times than not, happens to come from these Friends in Mile High Places. 


Thank you all, one more time, for the best year of my life. I hope that the next 52 weeks are as rewarding for us as these last 52 weeks have been.