Who's Frank?

Hey, it's Sunday Morning,

A few weeks ago, while prepping the house for a visit, my youngest daughter stopped me in my tracks.

“Papa, what’s going on tomorrow?” she asked.

“My friend Frank is coming over for coffee,” I told her.

“Who’s Frank?”

“You know, the Columbia professor, the gentle guy, my golf buddy.”

“Oh, the tall guy! You have so many tall friends.”

And just like that, I stopped.

Because Frank is more than a tall guy.

There are different kinds of people, not just the ones you can see. Some enter a room like a New Orleans brass band: loud, animated, demanding your attention. Others are quieter because they’ve learned to listen before speaking. They don’t seek the spotlight—yet, you still feel more seen in their presence.

Frank is one of those people.

He doesn’t rush to fill the silence. He notices things and remembers. He asks the kind of questions that make you think for days. He brings calm and stillness. A sort of peace that lingers long after the conversation ends. He doesn’t say goodbye when he leaves; he says, 'I love you.'

And who first noticed that last little detail? My friend Tim.

Tim is also a tall guy. Tall enough, I get on my tippy toes to hug him hello.

I feel safe around him—not because he’s imposing, but because he’s clear. He doesn’t leave you guessing. He says what he means and means it with care. He’s not loud. He’s just honest. You always know where he stands and where you stand. And that kind of steadiness, that kindness in clarity, feels rare these days.

It makes me think about the different ways people offer protection. Some protect with strength. Others, with presence. Some with truth. Others, tenderness.

We all have friends. Some tower over a room, others ground it. Some speak with volume, others with silence. But the older I get, the more I value the people who let me rest in their company. The ones who don’t require translation. Who remind me that safety has many forms: clarity, consistency, kindness. And sometimes... just enough courage to say 'I love you.'

Tall or not, those are the people I trust most.

And you, who do you trust most?