In that I find myself doing just that and also the next day having a telephone conversation with a good friend who is going through a bombardment of friends and family urging his salvation.
Before total self examination, I thought about the great men I have known in my life.
For a guy from a small town in Southern West Virginia I have been very fortunate in my life to meet and even know many, what most, consider great men. From politics, sports, and business. I won't drop names now, instead I would contrast that experience with three men I have known and been fortunate to call friends in the past six decades.
For a guy that for most of his life has most often been labeled as ornery, I have known three guys I could describe as really, really good men. This is not to say that all the rest of my friends are some how inferior, because that is just not the case. They are fine and in most all cases exceptional folks. In fact most would make the Special Honorable Mention list.
So what are the criteria I chose to be on this short list? After considerable thought on the matter I realized all three guys had almost identical traits, habits, and lifestyles. Here is what I discovered. First and foremost they all have great senses of humor, and yet they have a strong sense of self discipline, that sense is so strong and natural it is not something that is not in the least bit overbearing. I have never seen any of them have too much alcohol and they do not use tobacco, though one did chew in his younger years. They were outstanding athletes and all three are still in great physical shape, are sharp dressers, and have a particular sparkle in their eyes. The three are still married to their first wives and openly and obviously deeply in love with them. Not only have I never heard them, even jokingly, say a disparaging word about their wives, but in fact speak of them with loving respect. They are kind, caring, masculine gentlemen in the purist sense.
One is retired, one is partially retired, the other is still running his companies. All were forces in their respective fields earning well deserved honors and making their professions better and improving the quality of life in their communities.
They constantly strive to help people, to make the World a better place and aim for excellence.
Two of the three have made marked differences and guidance in my life, the third an inspiration and someone I choose to model myself. Unfortunately I didn't take it all advice given. What I did has been important to me and now I now realize the advice I shunned was even more important. Live and learn.
You may read this and think these guys aren't that unique. I am nothing, if not a student of people and they are quite rare among men.
I feel blessed to have these guys in my life and now as I reexamine my life find their lives more remarkable and never too late to emulate for myself and hopefully my sons.
One of my favorite quotes is "A father is a man who expects his children to be the man he meant to be"
I think that thought sums up the rush to reexamination and I believe and advised my good friend the best way to his salvation may be to strive to live his life in the manner of these three friends of mine.
I would not trade one of the Good Men I know, for all of the Great Men I have met.
