Remembering a friend

I still remember the last time I talked to him. It was Wednesday, August 1. Connections had ended and we were in the lobby at church. A group of college students had invited Nic to join them and go to Applebees. Nic said he didn't have any money. I opened my wallet and found three dollars. I handed him my last three dollars and told him to go get something with them. With that Nic and I hugged and he walked out the door.

Less than a week later I got the call. Nic had died. He had lost his long struggle with drugs. Nic and I had talked numerous times about this battle. Enough of the sad stuff. Let me tell you about my friend, Nic.

Nic was a young man with incredible talent and a heart full of love. Time and time again he would talk about his three greatest passions - skateboarding, his fiance, and his son (not necessarily in that order). Nic wanted to enjoy life.

I still remember walking into the hospital the week that Carter was born. I remember the joy on his face. And I could see the combination of pain and joy in his face as he and his fiance made the choice to give their son up for adoption. It was the most difficult decision I think either of them ever faced. I remember at the time being impressed with the maturity of this young man. In the midst of a life filled with trials and challenges, he was able to rise above it and make a decision that was in the best interest of that little boy.

Nic is gone now, but his memory lives on. I will always remember the times we sat in my office talking about life. The hours invested in a friendship. The times we hugged each other as we both tried to understand this journey called life.

Some lives never have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Nic's life is one of those. There is so much more I could say about Nic and about the life lessons I learned from knowing him, but I will conclude with this: I find joy in knowing that I had the opportunity to call him my friend.

shine!
Jason