There are different kinds of friendships out there. Ones we make in childhood that we think will last forever, but as time passes and people change they begin to fade. There are friendships of convenience - co workers and fellow students. Friends due to proximity but end once that disappears. Then, there are the close intimate friendships we develop over the years. People who know our most intimate details, the people we lean on during times of joy and sorrow. They are the ones whose counsel we trust on all matters of the heart. Friendships that are honest and stand the test of time. There are fleeting friendships. They are short for whatever reasons, but looked upon fondly due to the impacts on our lives. Finally, there are those friendships which stand the test of time. The kind that even if you haven't seen each other (or talked) in years, it doesn't feel like it when you touch base. Almost like you continue the last conversation you had from its last stopping point. Let me tell you of a friendship like that.
I met Muchun (Mooch) during an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship meeting probably late 1990 I think. It was one of those mixer moments, a game where they kind of force you into being social to get to know each other. I believe it was two separate lines with one that moved after each question. They were simple icebreaker questions, something easy to create a 60 second discussion. Then, they would move to the next question. The question Mooch and I got was birthday and we both responded November 10th. Which led to what year which was 1970 (yes I am old). Ironically, we were born on the same date, though I think he is a few hours older. Who knew? Maybe, mixers do work.
We didn't really start hanging out for at least a year after that. That's when there was a huge meeting between the campus leadership of Intervarsity and my bible study co-leader. I was blindsided when my co-leader revealed that he felt estranged from the leadership and felt unsupported with our bible study. This was news to me and I think I sat there with a very confused look on my face. When he was done, they turned to me and asked if I felt the same way. I felt bad as this had never come up in conversations with my co-leader and I did feel support from our leadership. To be fair, my best friends in the group were some members of leadership along with staff. It was after this meeting, Mooch (who was leading the weekly meetings) talked to me about getting together to keep communication lines open. That began our friendship.
It was tough walking around campus with Mooch, as it seemed like we were stopped by every other person. They either knew him from his columns in the student newspaper or through Intervarsity. It seemed like it would take hours to get anywhere with him. There were many times we would discuss whatever was going on in our lives or things about faith. We were a part of a circle of InterVarsity friends (Mostly single guys) who enjoyed each other's company and valued our friendships. It was a safe environment to discuss what was on our hearts. The first true men's group I have been involved with.
The years went by and we graduated around the same time. He went on a missions trip to Taiwan (His family came from there) and enjoyed it. I remember him telling me when he got on the flight to Taiwan that he was excited as everyone looked like him. We were born on the same day and are twin brothers. Just look at us and you can see the resemblance LOL.
He eventually went back to Taiwan to teach English. While there, he met his wife, Brenda, and married in 2000 I believe. I didn't go as it was pretty far, but I did get a nice invitation in Chinese. Saw him later again that year as he and Brenda got to visit Cleveland and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Over the years, we would e-mail each other once or twice a year. Usually, on our mutual birthday. They were blessed with two boys, Joshua and Benjamin, and earlier this year they had their daughter, Carissa. In our e-mails, our chats tend to start from wherever we just left off. Growing up, I never had a brother but Mooch is as close to a brother as I have ever had.
In the summer of 2013, our families got together where it began at The Ohio State University. It was a wonderful time catching up and meeting the new members of our families. Just like every other time, the years melted away and we started where we last left off. Now that they live in Indiana, and with us in Ohio maybe it will become easier to stay in touch. That's my hope. It was wonderful for my wife, Susan, to meet the man I consider my brother. Yes, she noticed the family resemblance too.
But, that's how friendships will go. Some are short and fleeting, and impactful. While others are life-long and special no matter the distance in miles and time.
I met Muchun (Mooch) during an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship meeting probably late 1990 I think. It was one of those mixer moments, a game where they kind of force you into being social to get to know each other. I believe it was two separate lines with one that moved after each question. They were simple icebreaker questions, something easy to create a 60 second discussion. Then, they would move to the next question. The question Mooch and I got was birthday and we both responded November 10th. Which led to what year which was 1970 (yes I am old). Ironically, we were born on the same date, though I think he is a few hours older. Who knew? Maybe, mixers do work.
We didn't really start hanging out for at least a year after that. That's when there was a huge meeting between the campus leadership of Intervarsity and my bible study co-leader. I was blindsided when my co-leader revealed that he felt estranged from the leadership and felt unsupported with our bible study. This was news to me and I think I sat there with a very confused look on my face. When he was done, they turned to me and asked if I felt the same way. I felt bad as this had never come up in conversations with my co-leader and I did feel support from our leadership. To be fair, my best friends in the group were some members of leadership along with staff. It was after this meeting, Mooch (who was leading the weekly meetings) talked to me about getting together to keep communication lines open. That began our friendship.
It was tough walking around campus with Mooch, as it seemed like we were stopped by every other person. They either knew him from his columns in the student newspaper or through Intervarsity. It seemed like it would take hours to get anywhere with him. There were many times we would discuss whatever was going on in our lives or things about faith. We were a part of a circle of InterVarsity friends (Mostly single guys) who enjoyed each other's company and valued our friendships. It was a safe environment to discuss what was on our hearts. The first true men's group I have been involved with.
The years went by and we graduated around the same time. He went on a missions trip to Taiwan (His family came from there) and enjoyed it. I remember him telling me when he got on the flight to Taiwan that he was excited as everyone looked like him. We were born on the same day and are twin brothers. Just look at us and you can see the resemblance LOL.
He eventually went back to Taiwan to teach English. While there, he met his wife, Brenda, and married in 2000 I believe. I didn't go as it was pretty far, but I did get a nice invitation in Chinese. Saw him later again that year as he and Brenda got to visit Cleveland and the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. Over the years, we would e-mail each other once or twice a year. Usually, on our mutual birthday. They were blessed with two boys, Joshua and Benjamin, and earlier this year they had their daughter, Carissa. In our e-mails, our chats tend to start from wherever we just left off. Growing up, I never had a brother but Mooch is as close to a brother as I have ever had.
In the summer of 2013, our families got together where it began at The Ohio State University. It was a wonderful time catching up and meeting the new members of our families. Just like every other time, the years melted away and we started where we last left off. Now that they live in Indiana, and with us in Ohio maybe it will become easier to stay in touch. That's my hope. It was wonderful for my wife, Susan, to meet the man I consider my brother. Yes, she noticed the family resemblance too.
But, that's how friendships will go. Some are short and fleeting, and impactful. While others are life-long and special no matter the distance in miles and time.
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