I’ve been walking all winter on my own, but today I was blessed to have a good friend Stefan Pettersson of Swedish descent, join me in our 9 km anti Covid walk through my city. Stefan is as close to a Viking as I will ever get close to, plus he is a rabid Leaf fan like me, AND the dude climbed Mt McKinley back in the day.

Stefan has been part of a couple of men’s groups I am a part of, both meeting weekly in early morning. Stef enriches my life and so many others by his consistent loyalty and ‘I’ve got your back’ attitude and action. I love this young man.

Stefan and I and a few others have the kind of male friendship C S Lewis affirms—

True friends don’t spend time gazing into each other’s eyes.
They may show great tenderness towards each other but they face in the same direction – toward common projects, goals – above all, towards a common Lord

Friends walk side by side.

You will not find the warrior, the poet, the philosopher or the Christian by staring in his eyes as if he were your mistress:

Better to fight beside him, read with him, argue with him, pray with him.