My Friend Craig T. Priday

I have this really great friend getting ready to come home from prison. The guy is great - means so much to me and the memories I shared with him will last my whole lifetime. I think he's down to like 3 or 4 days and I'm sure he's bouncing off the walls.
I met him through my friend Al. Al saw that I was struggling to witness Christ and live out Christianity in an environment that bred violence and insanity. So he went to Craig T. Priday and asked if Craig T. wouldn't mind giving me advice on how to remain solid for Jesus while trying to survive the madness of Leavenworth.
From that encounter where Craig T. showed just this overwhelming compassion and concern for a struggling believer sparked a friendship that had us together everyday. It started with Bible studies on the yard first thing in the morning. He would teach me some grand philosophical idea and I would encourage him to be a more sympathetic Christian.
It always was so funny hearing C.S. Lewis' ideas roll off the tongue of someone who wouldn't add the "st" in against and would draw out each word with a thick southern Missouri accent. I would giggle under my breath as he pointed out the latest apologetical arguments for substitutionary atonement. And don't get me started on how I'd crack up when we began to study Greek. I never knew there was a Dixie Land, Southern dialect of Greek until I heard the word "diakonos" come from this red bearded friend of mine.
In the winter we moved upstairs to the leather shop and drank hot coffee as we talked about ideas ranging from Biblical language to understanding Augustinian thought. He would encourage me to me more devout in the faith and I would encourage him to extend grace to all people. Those were great times, times I hope to get back as he comes home.
Those days were a great encouragement to me. I know as he transitions after many years in prison he'll see a type of Christianity in the free world so different from what we had in there. He'll witness so much change and there will be some uphill battles he's going to encounter. I hope to be there for him, as he was for me in the most trying of times in my life.