Where the Sidewalks Led Us – Flint Roots and Forever Friendships

Focus Scripture

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up." – Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Thoughts

Pierce Elementary School sat just blocks away from where I grew up on Vernon Avenue, nestled off Court Street in Flint, Michigan. My dad went to Pierce, and some of my closest childhood friends passed through those same halls—people such as Doug, Becky, Sarah, Jenny, Matt, Craig, and many others. But if you were from my crew, chances are you lived across the tracks (across Robert T. Longway Boulevard), in the State Streets on Flint’s Eastside. For the record, my mom and dad met in 8th grade, and they were from different sides of the tracks.

At any rate...

We were a ragtag band of brothers: Jim, Jamie, Joe, Paul, Nate, Craig, Matt, Jose, and many others. We all interacted and ran together, either during sports, after school, or just whenever. We didn’t need much—just a sidewalk and a destination. We walked or biked everywhere: to soccer practice, baseball games, or over to Atwood Stadium to watch our beloved Flint Central Indians take the field. We lived for those Friday night lights, but the band. Man, the band brought the fire, especially the drum corps. You didn’t just hear them; you felt them in your chest. We all interacted and ran together, either during sports, after school, or whenever.

We did not see school affiliation. Some of us went to Pierce Elementary or Washington Elementary, or Homedale Elementary; it didn't matter. We would gather for basketball at Pierce or Washington. Hockey at Homedale. Even in high school, some went to Flint Central or Flint Powers or elsewhere. Those were the days. I specifically remember one evening when Jim and I were running the streets of the Eastside. We ran (neither of us had a car at the time), went from house to house, looking for friends and just experiencing the streets at night. It was safe...it was home for Flint kids.

What we lacked in money or polish, we made up for in laughter, loyalty, and shared dreams. We had each other’s backs, whether we were trying to outrun curfew or cheering one another on from the bleachers. It was more than friendship—it was fellowship, the kind that shapes a soul.

Ecclesiastes 4 reminds us of the strength found in companionship. We were never meant to walk this life alone. God places people in our lives to lift us when we fall, to challenge us to grow, and to celebrate the beauty of shared journeys.

Those early bonds—though formed on cracked sidewalks and neighborhood ballfields—echo a bigger truth: we were created for community. And when Jesus is at the center of that community, it becomes something eternal.

Life Application

Think about your circle—past and present. Who’s helped you up when life knocked you down? Who’s walked beside you through seasons of growth, grief, or grit?

Now flip the question: Who are you walking alongside today? Whether you're mentoring a student, loving your spouse, or simply showing up for a friend, every step taken in Christ-centered friendship carries eternal value.

Don’t underestimate the sacredness of shared sidewalks, old school halls, and football bleachers. Jesus walked roads with His disciples too. He showed us that meaningful friendships are a part of discipleship.

Closing Prayer

Father, thank You for the memories etched into my childhood—the streets of Flint, the friends who became family, and the lessons learned on and off the field. Thank You for the gift of community, for the people who have lifted me and for those You’ve called me to lift. Help me to walk with purpose, love with intention, and reflect Your faithfulness in all my relationships. Teach me to be the kind of friend that leads others closer to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pierce Elementary School (Flint, Michigan)

Washington Elementary School (Flint, Michigan)

Homedale Elementary School (Flint, Michigan)