More than Friends

Written 06 May 2004. As I sit and watch the farewell hoopla for the Friends sitcom, I cannot help but think how blessed I have been.  Though I am and have been a viewer of this must-see TV for several years, I will not miss this group of pretend people whose greatest value as human beings is entertainment.  I feel sad for the cast of this show, not because tonight is their final episode, but because the crowning achievement to this point in their real lives has been the pretend lives of television characters of dubious moral character, even if they are somewhat lovable. In real life, I have been blessed to meet and serve in the military with some of the most admirable people that have ever walked the Earth.  Real people. These people chose to dedicate a large portion of their lives to serving their country by working long hours, accepting low pay and agreeing to risk their lives just because they believe it is the right thing to do.  We call these people soldiers and many of them are true heroes.  None of them expect to be famous and none of them will get rich by serving -- most make much less as soldiers than they would in any other pursuit.  Pat Tillman is the latest most famous example.  He was not an NFL player who joined the Army - HE WAS A SOLDIER WHO ONCE PLAYED IN THE NFL.  His sacrifice made him unique among professional athletes, but made him one of many among soldiers. A privileged few of us get to serve in one of those special units whose members bond together for life after serving together for only a short while.  When those special units break up, there are no network cameras present and no appearances on Leno or Letterman.  When it is your time to leave, you know to have your office cleared out quickly because there is somebody new in the unit ready to take your job.  You try hard to explain to your replacement how lucky he is to serve in a unit full of what you honestly believe to be the World's Greatest Soldiers, but no words can instill in him what years of camaraderie instilled in you. Before you understand how precious the life of each soldier and friend is, you will eventually experience the loss of one.  When somebody in real life dies, it takes more than thirty minutes to grieve the loss.  There is a real family left behind with real needs and the unit, no matter how much they miss their fallen comrade or how much they want to comfort his family, has to continue the mission.  At some point, mission permitting, the unit will organize a memorial service for the dead and expect all the soldiers to bring closure to the loss of a lifelong friend in a thirty minute service.  It takes more than thirty minutes to grieve the loss. The Bible says, John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. So far, 767 Americans have fulfilled this scripture and several thousand more stand ready to if necessary.  None of them are on NBC tonight.  Remember the soldiers in harm's way in your prayers and remember their families who are praying for their soldier's safe return.