Yo, bro!

 

This is my brother Cory.

Or Bob, or John, or Johnny, or Johnny Rocket, or Rocketman or Cadillac Jack.

I’ve taken time to brag about my family on each of their birthdays. Cory’s was on February 6th, about three weeks before I began this blog. I decided I wasn’t going to wait until next year to say a word about a good brother.

We have a pretty great relationship. I am six years older than him, which created a distance as we were growing up, but now that we are both men, the time is negligible. 

He’s always allowed me to lead. Mostly straight into trouble. Nothing sinful or wrong, but just unplanned. Like the time we went rafting downriver expecting to row back up it. Or when the motor on the boat just wouldn’t stay running. Or the time the dirt bike sunk up to the tank in mud. Or the time we expected to find a water source after twelve short miles through the woods in full gear only to end up sucking water out of rain puddles. Or the fifteen minute mountain biking trip because the mud was so thick on the trail we couldn’t even pedal. Or the time I convinced him to go to Arkansas with my crazy grandpa for a funeral. Riding in the back of a GMC Sonoma while I fell asleep at the wheel. A trip that would lead us straight into the home of the craziest man in Arkansas. Or the time we took off on a motorcycle ride around Lake Michigan and my bike wouldn’t start to even leave for the trip so we just packed a set of jumper cables and left anyway. 

I’ve tried to be there for him. I was ready to leave college and come home and work to help my family when he was hit by a car. I did get to spend the night in the hospital and bring him a talking Alf doll. I tried to help him through a difficult transition in his life about six years ago. When he was little I would always help him when he didn’t have enough cash to get by. I told him, “Just give me all your money and I’ll take care of you.” It always worked out in his favor, I promise.

He’s also been there for me.

Especially lately.

He probably doesn’t even realize how much he has helped and encouraged us in recent times.

He was in Georgia with us when we decided to come back to Flint to start our church. He quit his job and moved right back with us to get it going. Even now, eleven years later, he is involved in nearly every aspect of our ministry in some way.

Even with busy jobs, busy families and busy lives, we try to spend some time together every two weeks. It, more often than not, ends up in another crazy situation. It’s important to me that we do that. 

I couldn’t have asked the Lord for a better brother. I love him.

But don’t let him know I said that.