Michael Durant sat in the seat of his crashed “Super Six-Four” Blackhawk helicopter. He had a broken femur and some crushed vertebrae in his spine. He was the only conscious crew member of the aircraft that was now surrounded by Somali militia. Enemy fire began to hit all around him. Unable to move, he picked up his weapon and began firing from his seat in the cockpit. Durant stood alone as the surrounding mob descended upon him.
From the safety of their helicopter, Delta Force snipers Randy Shughart and Gary Gordon realized the only chance for the downed crew’s survival was ground support, and they quickly volunteered. After three persistent requests, they were given the green light. They hit the deck one hundred meters from the crash site and fought their way there. Just as Michael Durant began firing for the first time, Shughart and Gordon arrived. They pulled Durant from the aircraft and lay him in a safe place. Then they went to the front and entered into intense fighting. Gordon fell, mortally wounded. Shughart grabbed Gordon’s rifle and brought it to Durant. Then he went to the front of the aircraft, never to be seen again.
Gordon and Shughart were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Durant credits them for saving his life. Michael Durant described the events this way: “When it got ugly…when you get into a situation like that…I’m fighting for the guy next to me. I’m fighting for my comrades.” Let’s pause and remember these heroes and glean characteristics of true friendship. What would it look like if we had friendships like this in our everyday lives? What difference would it make as dads, in our marriages, and careers? None of these are war (except if your career is in the military), but each has its difficulties. Having close friends you can count on or being that kind of friend to someone else can make all the difference. Here are the 5 characteristics of brothers in arms.
1. Love
Love is a choice. It is about putting someone else before oneself.This goes beyond warm feelings and a bond. Love is a choice. Jesus said in John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” It is about putting someone else before oneself. It’s about giving someone else honor. All of the characteristics below are born out of love. We were created to love and to be loved. It is the deepest human need. Is there a friend you have loved without looking for anything in return?
2. Sacrifice
This means being at someone’s side regardless of the cost. It’s the willingness to give up things of significant worth for the benefit of another. Sacrifice can be shown in big ways like traveling a considerable distance to be with a friend in need. It can be shown in smaller ways like losing some sleep by taking a late night phone call. In what ways have you sacrificed for a friend lately?
3. Faithfulness
This is about being dependable through good times and bad, being someone your friends can truly count on. You endure and are consistently reliable. When things were at their worst, Shughart and Gordon were by Durant’s side. They shared his burden when they didn’t have to. How can you share in a friend’s burden?
4. Honesty
An honest person is willing to be truthful even when it’s hard. “As iron sharpens iron, so does one man to another.” We sharpen one another by holding one another accountable when we get out of line. It takes courage to say the difficult thing when we see a friend going down a destructive path. We have to be willing to be vulnerable with our weaknesses first in many circumstances. Is there a friend you can be completely real with?
5. Trust
Faithfulness and honesty build trust. You have won your friend’s full confidence. This is earned. As you do this over time, the bond will grow deeper, and you become brothers in arms. More will be shared and the part you will play in your friend’s life will increase. How much trust have you earned with your friends? These characteristics feed one another. As you live this out, your friendships will become richer.
Sound off: What are some other qualities of brothers in arms? What are the qualities you look for in a true friend?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “What do you think makes a good friend?”