O  L  M  A  N

I wanted to say Happy Birthday to you.

I know that it's late, that when you read this it will, in fact, be April 2nd. Regardless I hope this finds you well. I hope you had a fun day today, I hope that work was enjoyable, that you were respected and even celebrated there, and that your time after work was awesome.

I'm excited for your birthday. Getting older currently feels terrifying, but if it has to happen, I'm glad I'm getting older with you. That I'm not alone. That every year, after you get older, two weeks later I get older. Just like that.

I have missed you a lot, Olman. I wanted to do something meaningful for your birthday, I wanted to do something that would make your day better, so I started working on this. So I thought about what kind of person you are. I chose colors that remind me of you. Those grays. A song that reminds me of you. A sentimental, beautiful, skillfully played song.

It was difficult though, more difficult than it's been in the past. I think it was actually a little painful thinking a lot about the kind of person you are. Mostly because I realize that I miss you. I realize that I wish you were a part of my daily life, not someone I see a couple times a month. I realize that you mean a lot to me. That you're someone I've looked up to for over six years. That you're someone who constantly encourages me, just by existing. That you're someone I love.

So I realize I feel sad not seeing you like I want. I don't know God's intentions for your life or mine. I know you've been wanting to talk to me about a big decision, and truthfully, I have fear it means I'll be a smaller part of your life, but regardless I think all of this speaks to the kind of person you are, Olman.

Charles Wareing Bardsley in his 1901 A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances claims that Olman is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name, given to a person who was a holy man, typically a priest or friar. 

Other sources I've seen make the claim that your name is related to the Old English ald literally meaning old, so that your name would be old man. Which is kind of funny. Works with the card well. 

When I think of you, I do think of a holy man. You're certainly not perfect and I don't agree with you on everything, but that just means we live in the fallen world we do. When I think of you, I think of an intentional person. A solid person. That's why I think of the color I do, it's solid, strong, unmoving. That all feels like you to me. You're so many things that I wish I was. I truly have looked up to you since I first met you. You've been in the process of sanctificiation, you've grown, matured, and become more of the man that the LORD intends you to be. I count myself very lucky to have witnessed part of it.

I love your mind, your passion, your strong desire to create something meaningful. I love hearing about your plans for the dating program. I love that you want it to accomplish something, that you want it to be accountable, not be a large scale dating app for Christians.

I really respect the kind of person you are. I appreciate your thoughtfulness, how careful you are in so many ways. In the most literal sense, how you are conservative.

It's also just really fun to be around you. You're a hilarious person. I love when you do stuff like sticking your tongue out and shaking it thing. Yadi and I have been calling it 'The Olman' recently. I love that if you don't really know you, it seems uncharacteristic, but it actually fits your humor and personality. I always have fun being around you, whether it's sitting in the same row at church and hardly talking, or the times I've gotten to spend a couple days in a row with you.

I just really appreciate you. I think there's so much to appreciate. I'm so thankful you're in my life. If I'm ever on a desert island, stranded, I would want you to be there. Which is kind of cruel. But I'd love being around you, and your leadership, passion, and skill would be really helpful. I hope that doesn't happen.

I do hope I get to continue being in your life though. It has been such an honor, truly. You build me up as a man and give me encouragement in the good work that is being done.

I remember meeting you at Hope. You immediately struck me as a principled, intelligent, charismatic person. I loved being in Senior Bible and Philosophy with you, getting to hear your thoughts. I loved seeing your skills in extracurricular activities, with chess and wrestling and more. I look up to you for the gifts you have and the things you do with them. I love that you've given back to Hope and choose to be involved. 

I can't really imagine the kinds of stress you have with your current job, your personal life, the other activities and organizations you contribute to. I feel like I only know a fraction of your life, but I certainly see the work you put in. 

This is long and rambly, there's just been a lot on my mind and I've been thinking of you. I've been frustrated by how fleeting this earthly life can feel. I've been longing for deeper relationships. I wish I knew you betterr, I wish I was there for more of your life. It's not necessarilly my role, but I want you to know that you matter a lot to me. You feel like a brother to me. I look up to you probably more than anyone else my age. I can't think of anyone else that would be above, really. I know that you're not perfect. You have your shortcomings, your struggles. I hope that I can be there for those things and support you.

I've said it many times, I am truly thankful for you. Thank you for letting me be in your life. I hope that you feel the fullness of Christ's love. I hope and pray you're not distracted or discouraged by this world, but that you wake up each day renewed, trusting in the Sovereign God in Heaven, living life joyfully. I don't know what to tell you man. I wish I could make your life easier, I wish I could be closer to you. I wish that work wasn't so stressful for you. You just mean a lot to me, let me know how I can be there for you.

This has been long, rambling, has potentially contained oversharing and overly-mushy sentiments. I hope that this has encouraged you and not weirded you out.

I know your family, your friends, your coworkers, and everyone who encounters you is better off knowing you. I hope that today was fun man.

Happy Birthday, Olman.

Here's to 24.