Every time I go into Philadelphia I think of my friend
George.
George is one of those go anywhere, do anthing for you variety of friends. I try to
be the same for him.
We have both put one another to that friendship test.
Music made the match between George and myself. About 25 years ago, we both
were struggling singer/songwriters playing the folk club circuit. We decided there
was strength in numbers. Also in the novelty of a salt and pepper folk act.
George is very white to my very black. But our voices blended well, we had
similar tastes in music, and we wrote songs that were compatible to one another's.
I was in my early 20s when I met George. He even was earlier in his 20s. We formed a
bond that still exists today. We do not see as much of one another as we used to,
maturity does something to your aspiring musical careers, but I know in my heart he would
only be a phone call away if I needed him.
There have been times when that has been the case and vice versa.
I can remeber the time I came to George's aid. He called me in the middle of the
night and asked me if I could go pick up his wife for him. The grocery store she
worked at as a manager had been robbed and he wanted to get her off premise as quickly as
possible.
Although half asleep, there was no question as to the response. Still yawning, I was
picking Darlene up at the store a few minutes later.
George returned that favor.
I had gone into Philadelphia to cover a concert. It was at a little music joint called the
Bijou Cafe. There was a parking lot around the corner from it on Broad Streeet, one
of the bustling strips in downtown Philadelphia.
The lot was owned by a man named Reds. Over the years we had gotton friendly.
The lot closed early. The second show was late. Reds was not around
when I arrived. I left the car there despite the fact the big sign on the wall
said unauthorized cars would be towed away. Reds knew I would hook him up the next time
around and said it was okay to just leave the car if I ever missed him.
When the show let out, I returned to my car. My car was not there. The contact
name on the tow-away sign said call Tuffy for more information. Now these
names are starting to sound like a Grade B movie.
I called Tuffy and the answering machine informed me of two things. Tuffy's business
hours would not start until the next morning and that it would take $60 cash for me to
bail the car out of the impound.
It now was a little past midnight. I had maybe $15 in my pocket and Tuffy would not
be around for another 8 hours anyway. This was before the day of ATM's and money
cards. And transportation from Philadelphia back out to the Burbs was non-existant
at this hour of the night.
I was stranded. I got a cab to take me to a motel. The first motel we hit had no
vacancies. There was room in the inn at the second attempt. I had a credit
card (incidentally Tuffy did not take credit cards) so I secured my lodging for the night.
I called my parents, where I was still living at the time, explained to them both my
predicament and where I was staying for the night. They said they would send
me cash but how would theI get it to me? That is where George came in. I
called him at work, where he was the working the midnight to eight shiftI told him I
needed him to bring money to me in Philadelphia when he got out of work. He said no
problen, took the address of the motel and I was feeling like my problem had been
ressolved.
I just fell into a deep sleep when suddenly I was awakened by a pounding at the door.
It was a male voice screaming profanities. Apparently he thought my room was
that of his drinking buddy. It took a half hour of shouting to get him away from my
door.
Then I crawled back into bed to get some much needed sleep. Another pounding at the
door began. "Hey big guy, you want a little company tonight," came a raspy
female voice from the other side of the door.
I now knew that this was not the best spot to spend a night and that there was going to be
little sleep involved in the process.
The next day, George was there bright and early. I looked like I had had little or
no sleep which is because I had had little or no sleep.
We followed the address to Tuffy's. The further we went, the more it looked like
this impound lot was in a war zone. George, who is a pale on a good day, grew paler
with each block we went deeper into this foreign territory. We had reached the point
that we no longer were stopping for red lights, for fear of the gangs gathered on
the corners.
When we got to Tuffy's, George stayed in the car with the car in gear, his foot on the gas
and the window open, in the event I had to come diving in. The rest of
the trip fortunately was uneventful but the whole thing could have been worse
if I had not had my friend in need,.
George and I did not have any more major emergencies in our adult life but we still reach
out to one another with little favors over the years.
When I was ordained, he and Darlene catered the repast that we had for friends and family.
The bill he presented me was ridiculously low for what he had provided. But a
friend in need...
The next in our list of reaching out came when George and Darlene celebrated their 25
wedding anniversary several years back. They called and asked If I would perform a
renewal of vows ceremony for them. That was an easy one to answer.
it was the last friendship exchange that really made me feel old. "John, its
George," said the voice on the other side of the phone. "I was
wondering if you would perform Jesse's wedding for us."
When George and I were playing together in our band, Darlene was carrying Jess.
And now, I was being asked to perform her wedding ceremony. I did of course,
and like so many events in George and my life, there was no money exchanged. You
know, a friend in need...
George has always been there for me and I have tried to be there for him. But I know
there have been times that I have not been able to rise to the occasion for George.
Requests that logistics just would not allow me to honor. And there were
times I could have really used George around but he just could not do it.
This does not mean our friendship is any less strong, just that we both are human
with a whole long list of adult responsibilities these days.
Friends can fail you. Your mother and your father can let you down. Your sister and your
brother may not be able to help. But Jesus and his father God will never fail you.
Does not matter what time of the day you call, does not matter how dangereous the
situation may be God will intervene and make a way for you some how.
It has been almost two years since I last talked to George. I probably will call him as
soon as Annual Conference is over. I do not need anything,. I just want to check in,
and up, on an old friend.
As soon as I finish writing, I will check up on my other old friend. I am going to
have a little talk with Jesus. Thank him for the great day of Annual
Conference. Thank him for traveling mercies to and from conference. And thank Him
for strengthening me as I gave my report. I do not need anything this time round, I
just want to check in and up on an old friend.
A real friend indeed.
