Brotherhood: Either you get IT or you DON'T.

What makes a man call another man his brother?

Is it blood, is it through some spiritual connection, is it through reason?

I have been fortunate to have grown up in Southern California with many men that I call my brothers.

Accomplished men of great skill and talent, yet men who were more than the sum of their accomplishments.

I called them brothers not only because of my admiration for what they did. I called them brothers, because of who they were.

I spoke to one of them last night. He's my older brother. I really thought of him more of a friend than anything else. Throughout the years, I've struggled with watching his immense talent being overshadowed by his appetites.

But last night, I have to say that I rediscovered a feeling for him that I haven't had since I was a young boy.

Admiration.

I admire my older brother for his courage and dignity. For his humility and sincerity.

It's not what he does that makes him who he is...

It's who he is that makes him do what he does...

If I were to desribe my brother to other people now, I would use a term that I would never have used to describe him in the past...

Warrior.

He's more of a warrior than the guys I train with. He's more of a christian than many ministers I hear speak at a pulpit.

His talent is hindered, but not gone. He can still express it from his heart and mind. It lives forever in the memories of those who have had the opportunity to experience it.

AND it lives in the hands and hearts of his sons...

My brother lives this passage...

"Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." - Matt 10:39

I hope and pray that this holiday finds him closer to the God that created and saved my brother's life for one singular purpose...

He makes God smile.