Herb R.

Herb R. is an interesting man with an interesting journey. He is also my friend, though we correspond only rarely these days, which has been the case since I left his town of Carrollton, GA, to return back north in 2015. But while our communication is occasional, it is certainly true that Herb has made a significant impression on me, and has impacted my life in a long-lasting way for the good. Let me say a little bit about that here….

Herb and I met in a place where people commonly use first name, last initial as a way of self-identification. For those of you familiar with what I am talking about, you will recognize the nomenclature immediately; for those unfamiliar, perhaps someday this will have personal significance for you. In any event, I was drawn to what Herb had to share at one of these first name, last initial gatherings, and I approached him to see if he would be receptive to developing a friendship. I am very grateful that he was.

What initially drew me to Herb, and what I learned to appreciate even more about him as we got to know each other over two or three years, is the way he communicated the life experiences he had lived. He wasn’t somebody who tends to multiply words simply because he liked to talk; rather, he is someone who is observant, and who likes to put wisdom into action, occasionally underscoring the lived wisdom with spoken or written words.

Herb is also a man who takes personal and spiritual growth, well, personally. For as long as I have known him, and of course for decades before we met, Herb has been pondering the mysteries of life and has developed the practice, and discipline, of communicating what he learns to others. I admire this, and, at some level, I imagine that his “Thought for the Day” was at least a partial inspiration for my own blog. I have always liked Herb’s capacity for reflection, and for philosophical contemplation.

Another thing that stands out to me about Herb is his manner and personality. Though he was always warm and engaging with me, I often sensed a certain privateness about him that wasn’t exactly guardedness as much as it was mystery and intrigue. As someone who tends to put himself out there right from the start, at times too much so, this aspect of Herb’s modus operandi always fascinated me, and, to some extent, still does. You could know a good bit about Herb and his take on things, but I always got the sense that the more inner sanctums were reserved, either for the God of his understanding or, perhaps, some person(s) with whom he shared the deepest level of intimacy. Though at the time I had hoped to access the innermost parts of his psyche, I was – and am – very grateful to have spent quite a bit of quality time in quite a number of the rooms.

Herb, I have so many memories of our time together in western Georgia: the round of golf and the dinner afterwards, walks on the Greenbelt, conversations in your living room and on your porch, your beloved dog, attending meetings together, conversations about your spiritual pilgrimages, breakfasts at various times of the day at Waffle House and Martin’s, stories about fly fishing and the great state of Michigan, and much, much more. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your friendship and for your impact on, and influence in, my life. I will never forget you (I don’t know who could), and I hope you spend your remaining years on that which satisfies and enriches your soul. I don’t doubt that you will.