When I lost my best friend (Kendall) a little over three years ago, I was lost. Much of who I am is because of him. But once he was gone, I didn’t know what to do. It was the first major loss in my life and I didn’t know how to handle it. I turned to everything looking for something to ease the pain. All it did was create a bigger fall for me in the end.
Caleb back then is a person I don’t recognize. I shrunk from everything and ran each chance I got. I didn’t know how to be strong because I was too busy being a victim in life and not a participant. I blamed everyone and everything else on my pain. But God in His grace brought me out of my sin, addiction, and relationships because He had a plan not for my glory but His.
I went through healing and some minor counseling but still didn’t have anyone. I had mentors, friends, spiritual leaders, but no brothers. I was a David without a Jonathan. That was until God brought Ben and Tyler into my life.
Ben
Ben and I met at Training Camp and to this day I can’t tell you how our friendship started. It’s one of those that didn’t have a definite beginning because when you meet you feel as if you’ve been friends your entire life. He team lead our team (Rakhma Rua) and was the perfect man for the job. God has blessed him with wisdom and grace that transcends far beyond his age. When you talk to Ben, you quickly forget that you’re speaking to a twenty-three year old and not a million year old sage with lifetimes of wisdom.
I thank God that he was my TL (team leader) because it was under his leadership and how God worked through him that the team was able to thrive. Don’t get me wrong, we had hiccups and arguments like any other team out there but we never gave up on each other.
Ben is the man everyone needs in their life. His quiet strength, deep passion, and relentless grace is contagious and it only comes from God. He is quick to extend mercy and even quicker to admit when he’s wrong. He is desperate for God. Watching him sing praises to God is enough to bring a man to tears. He desperately calls out to his Father and wants more than anything to do His will.
Ben has gone from the unsure team leader to a man I will gladly follow anywhere.
Tyler
Tyler and I were on Rakhma Rua together for the first leg of the race and, being honest, I didn’t think we’d become friends. I was wrong. Very wrong. We started hanging out, talking, and bonding. I think it all started in Colombia when we accidentally wore the same outfit. I love matching clothes with people (weird, I know) but what are the odds we’d pack the same outfit on a trip like this? Crazy. Before I knew it, we’re best friends.
Tyler carries wisdom and strength that has only come from years of following Jesus. His convictions run deep and he stands for them with strength that can only come from God. He tests everything and goes to God for everything. He is constantly trying to find new ways to grow and learn. He is also protective by nature which shows a side of God not many people like to think about. He is not affraid to throw himself in harms way for those he loves and he is willing to stand by you and for you through it all.
Don’t get the wrong impression. He isn’t Rambo looking for a fight around every turn and stupidly running into battle alone. He isn’t afraid to ask for help or for understanding. The best way to describe him is: free. He likes to play jokes on people, run after crabs on the beach or try to find interesting seashells, he’ll randomly start tickling you, send you “fail” videos, or play his new favorite song for you because it’s “SOOOOO GOOD”. With Tyler, one moment you can be having a deep discussion on anything and everything spiritual but the next be laughing together at some meme or Madea movie.
Tyler has gone from the quiet guy I didn’t think I’d be friends with to my best friend.
Ben and Tyler are my brothers. Through them, God has taught me courage, strength, and peace.
Through Tyler, God taught me how to follow my convictions, stand for what I believe, and that it is okay to be grown and still have fun. Which was something I was always self conscious of. I thought a man should always be serious and “strong” not someone that gets excited easily or likes to run and jump and have fun.
Through Ben, God taught me peace. That you should have a fire inside you but not letting it burn other people. It should be welcoming, warm, and used as a guiding light. Fire can be dangerous and should only be used to protect those you love. Not used against them.
I have learned to have the mind of a man and heart of a child and it was all because of two men who followed the call from God.
