I was cleaning our patio furniture a few days ago and got out the tools I would need including a small hand broom. I call this my Anar brush. Here's the story...
Anar Ohlin and I were on a church staff together in the early 90s. The church had purchased an office building that we were re-purposing for church use. As I recall, Anar and I were working on a clean up project and he had brought this hand brush to help clean out some tight spaces. I'm not sure how, but this little brush wound up under one of the seats in my car and I did not discover it for quite a while. When I told Anar I found his brush he told me to "keep it," he had another one. I have had it ever since. Every time I use it I think of Anar and his friendship.
We had a rocky departure from this church staff. When Anar found out the circumstances and reasons for this unsettling time, he was quite upset. He became my biggest defender. Even though we were already very good friends, and enjoyed working together immensely, I did not realize how big a friend he was to jeopardize his position in his outspoken defense of me. After we transitioned to another church in Colorado we remained close through phone calls, visits, and eventually emails. (email was just becoming a routine communication method in that time period)
Early in 2004 Anar called me and told me that he was having increasing problems with his heart. He knew that he would probably not live a lot longer with his weakened heart. We reminisced about some of the times we shared together and got caught up with what we each were doing at the present time and how our wives and children were doing. Then Anar got to the main reason for his call. He wanted me to come and play the piano and lead all the music for his funeral. While it would mean a hastily arranged airline flight and schedule changes when the time came, I immediately promised Anar I would be there. In the middle of June in 2004 I made that flight and played the piano and led the music for my friend. When we arrived back at the church from the graveside service, I had an encounter that laid to rest most of the issues that had contributed to our department from this church staff several years earlier. Once again, my very good friend had been instrumental in being a friend to me.
As you can see, Anar's Brush is starting to get a little ragged. I think that once it isn't useful anymore for its intended purpose, I will hang it in my home office to remind me everyday of what it means to be a true friend.
