There's an old saying that goes something like, "Nothing good happens past 12 am." I beg to differ, in fact, I challenge that statement with my own. The best conversations happen after 12 am.

One of my favorite things in life is getting to know my friends. And as much as I love them, most of them put up walls to keep others out. So, it takes a while of poking and prodding to get them to actually open up to others, especially if they are bent on keeping everyone out.

But, if you've got "The Phantom of the Opera" on in the background and it's 1 am, or if you're laughing over being delirious in the green room, chances are, you'll learn a good bit about whomever it is that you're talking to. And by consequence, you'll open up a little more than you might have intended.

You see, I see where the old adage gets its wisdom from, "Keep both feet on the floor" and "Make sure there's room for Jesus." It's sensible. But, in my experience, I haven't been put in many situations where I've needed that kind of idea kept in my head. Instead, I gladly welcome the early morning giggles and late night talks that are just more real than those that are had around noon at lunch time. You get to know your friends.

There's a simple elegance that comes when you see or feel the walls come down when someone is fully honest with you. No more hiding or pretending to be someone you're not, but instead finding a couple of people to open up to who don't judge, and instead see the broken parts of you as not ugly and scarred, but instead as things that made you stronger and brought you to where you are today.

3 am conversations will always be one of my favorite things in life, and however unpleasant the following morning may be considering you survive off of three hours of sleep, caffeine, and a whole lot of prayers are completely worth it.

So, I challenge you to this, stay up late like a high schooler and get kicked out of your local coffee house because they want to go home and you don't realize the time. You'll never know what you'll learn about someone or realize that you have found a couple of friends that you can be your weird, loud, and obnoxious self around.