My friend, Danny Lotz

A few years ago, I was able to take a very special trip with my parents and brother. We traveled on a large ship with about 40 other passengers through the Aegean Sea as we visited the 7 churches of Revelation. Anne Graham Lotz was our teacher and as I received her teaching for 3 weeks, I grew in my love for the Lord, His church and His word. I was also blessed to build friendships with my fellow sojourners, including Anne’s husband, Danny.

Danny is a man that people notice right away. He is very tall and almost always smiling. His smile dominates his face. He is a hugger and a storyteller. He is animated and gentle and he passionately loves his family and the Lord. I loved spending time with Danny. My favorite memory of our time together was during an afternoon on deck. As our ship sailed along, Danny and I stood at the railing and He was telling stories about his family. Like most families, the Lotz’s had their share of heartaches. He alluded to their recent trial and he continued talking. He assumed that because they are a well-known family, I would know what he was talking about. I had absolutely no clue, and so I interrupted him. I told Danny that I couldn’t and didn’t want to pretend to understand what he assumed I knew. I felt a little stupid and rude for interrupting, but I really loved Danny and I wanted to understand. His reaction reassured me that I said the right thing. Danny gave me the biggest hug and his massive smile grew another inch, and then he thanked me for being honest.

That sweet moment served as a platform for a deeper and authentic friendship with Danny. I would have missed such a blessing if I had been rigidly polite while nodding my head, in my well-coached southern manner. Most of the time, I learn more from my mistakes than from what I happen to get right, but the lesson I learned from being authentic with Danny has stuck with me. Today, when I don’t understand something, I am pretty quick to admit it.

This lesson shouldn’t be difficult for any of us to embrace. We tell our children to seek the help of their teachers when they are stumped in their academic lessons. We Google anything and everything we don’t know about, and we seek answers in the Bible when we are struggling with spiritual questions. We seek medical help for physical conundrums and professional help when our tennis or golf swing is out of whack. We need to apply our hunger for understanding in our relationships too.

What is the point in being as busy as we are and filling up our calendars with all that we do, if we are not deeply investing in people along the way? I feel so loved and encouraged when the question of, “How are you doing, Catherine?” is followed up by a second or 3^rd more detailed question. I believe most people want to be known, and they want to tell you more than how their day was or how their weekend was. Even if they don’t trust you with their stuff, just by asking, you have let them know you care.

We are on this planet to love the Lord and love people. We cannot do that in a sterile, icy-polite, frenzied manner. We have a short time here to be authentic in our love for others and to be authentically vulnerable in the sharing of ourselves. If you have a minute, please help me learn. What are some of the best questions you have been asked, or a great question you asked someone else?

I miss Danny, but I am so thankful for the lesson I learned from him. Oh precious friends, don’t miss out on the blessing of being real.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Col 3:12 (NLT)