DOWN HOME: Counting the cost of true friendship

Do you have any true friends?

One of my buddies—and you'll see why I didn't use the word "friend" in a minute—sent an email to several, uh, guys who know one another the other day. It raised an interesting discussion.

Well, actually, it prompted a discussion that reminded me of the kinds of things we joked about in the locker room back in high school. But later, I also saw the interesting part, too.

The subject line of the email says, "The Definition of a True Friend." And then the note in the memo section says, "Raise your hand if you would do this for me."

Below that, a picture shows two little boys in a public restroom. (Don't worry, it doesn't reveal anything you wouldn't want your mother to see.) The first little boy is down on his knees, palms flat on the floor. And the second little boy is standing on the first little boy's back, apparently "doing his business" into a tall, tall facility that would have been too high for him to reach without the first little boy's help.

The picture prompted this exchange:

Jerry (which is not his real name, but to protect everyone but me, we'll call him Jerry): Just so we are all clear … I guess I never will be a True Friend.

Me: If I could do it without putting my palms on the floor, and you would give me $10,000 if you dribble, I would try.

Jerry: For $10,000, I would expect to be able to use your pocket.

Me: Let me get some no-drip plastic jeans, and maybe we'll talk.

Later, Rocky (which is not his real name, but to protect everyone but me, we'll call him Rocky) allowed as how he didn't think he could be a true friend, either.

OK, it was a silly picture and an even-sillier conversation. Kind of gross. And I'm sorry. Well, a little bit sorry.

But our conversation points to one of the great treasures of my life—or any life, for that matter—and that's friendship.

Ironically, once I popped off about being compensated with $10,000 for any mistake or "collateral damage" associated with the friendship, I knocked the conversation off course.

That's because friendship doesn't count the cost of being a friend.

Friendship just is.

So, think about your friendships.

Which relationships depend upon a quid pro quo? They scratch your back as long as you're scratching theirs.

And now consider the friends who will be there for you, no matter the conditions or the cost. Think about the friends who would experience sore knees and dirty hands for you. The friends who won't back out, even when your mistakes hurt them. They're your true friends.

Thank God for true friends.