Somebody's gonna drop everything

Somebody out there will drop everything. Somebody will hit the gas and get there fast and never stop to think what's in it for them or even consider that it's way too far. If you're a country music fan, then you probably know where these words came from. However, before I reveal where they came from, let's examine a fact of life.

It's a fact of life that life itself is not always easy. Sometimes, we find ourselves overwhelmed by work, school or just life in general. Sometimes, we find ourselves confused. Sometimes, we find ourselves anxious about something. Sometimes, we find that we just need a friend.

Tonight, I'm going to blog about friendship. Friendship comes in many forms. For example, a dog, man's best friend, is often one of the most loyal, reliable partners in a friendship. Other times, a friend can be found in co-worker's at work. Yet other times, friends can be found in the servers at a coffee shop or the old man who sits on his porch everyday and waves at the traffic that goes by. You, see friends come from all kinds of places and include all kinds of faces. Anyone can be a friend to someone.

Yet, there's a special type of friend that all of us have. What I'm talking about is a friend like the one described in the lyrics of the following song:

"Find Out Who Your Friends Are"

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind, 
Lose the shirt off your back,
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare...

This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie

You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 
"What's in it for me?" 
Or "It's way too far" 
They just show on up
With their big ol' heart
You find out who your friends are...

Everybody wants to slap your back
Wants to shake your hand 
When you're up on top of that mountain
But let one of those rocks give way
Then you slide back down
Look up and see who's around then

This ain't where the road comes to an end
This ain't where the bandwagon stops
This is just one of those times when
A lot of folks jump off.

You find out who your friends are

Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think
"What's in it for me?"
Or "It's way too far" 
They just show on up
With their big ol' heart
You find out who your friends are...

When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?

You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think
"What's in it for me?"
Or "It's way too far" 
They just show on up
With their big ol' heart
You find out who your friends are...

You find out who your friends are...

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Man I been there
Or get yourself in a bind
Lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare...
Man I been there
Man I been there...

We've all been in a bind in our life. At some point or another, we've all needed a friend to get that "car" off the side of the road. It's during those times, that we find out who our true friends are. I'm happy to say that I have a couple.

It's easy to be someone's friend when everything is a bed of roses. However, we've got to learn that even rose beds have thorns. I think it's our duty to look at our own life and ask ourselves about all the times we had a friend who helped us out of a bind. Chances are, we were very grateful for their help. Therefore, why shouldn't we do the same for our friends when they are faced with the same or a similar situation?

Life, in my opinion, is full of opportunities for us to help our fellow man. Being a true friend is just one of them. A true friend never considers what he or she will gain from helping someone. No, they help because they can and because they have a desire too.

I've always said that a lot in life is about humility and concern for the other guy. Friendship is a perfect example of that. A true friend is a selfless servant who is always ready to lend a helpful hand, a listening ear, or a caring heart to their fellow friend. I try my best to do that because I am eternally grateful for those who have done the same for me.

Tonight, the measure of a man can sometimes be found in his ability to be a true friend, not a fair weather friend or a friend that abandons you when you fall from the top of the mountain. Let's all strive to be a true friend! In doing so, we, ourselves will "find out who our friends are."

That, my friends, is just a few thoughts from this small town southern man!