Wednesday, January 1, 2025

It's a Wonderful Life | No One is a Failure Who Has Friends


"Auld Lang Syne" w/ Friends in It's a Wonderful Life

"Remember ...
no man is a failure
who has friends."

+ It's a Wonderful Life

Did you enjoy celebrating the arrival of a new year? And during said celebrations, did any of us listen to or even sing a certain song to close 2024? I can't help myself when "Auld Lang Syne" begins to play. Whenever I hear it, I immediately think of the closing scene in the classic film It's a Wonderful Life. Watch the scene again. Makes me tear up every time (and if I'm being honest, cry more and more every year I get older). What a privilege to be loved by so many and to know your life is valued by friends in the place and time you live.

History of Auld Lang Syne 


"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scottish poem that was written by Robert Burns in 1788 A.D. The title means, "old long since" or "days gone by." The call of the song is to remember the friendships we have been given, some of the greatest gifts we could ever receive in this life of trial and accomplishment, sorrow and joy, sickness and healing. 

Auld Lang Syne Lyrics

Robert Burns, 1788 A.D.

Should old acquaintance be forgot
and never thought upon,
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone?

Is thy sweet heart now grown so cold,
that loving breast of thine;
That thou canst never once reflect
On auld lang syne?

On auld lang syne my Jo,
On auld lang syne,
That thou canst never once reflect,
On auld lang syne?

While this song has proved humans continue to long for and sing about friends old and new, others have also provided choruses for us to sing across genres throughout the years:

We’re Going to Be Friends
The White Stripes
Garage Rock

Count On Me
Bruno Mars
Pop R&B

Selena Gomez & Demi Lovato
Pop Punk

I’m Only Me When I’m with You
Taylor Swift
The Jackson 5
Dionne Warwick & Stevie Wonder
Queen
Arena Rock

Friends
The Carters (Beyonce + Jay Z)
The Rembrandts
Pop Rock

Michael W. Smith
CCM

Friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them.
And a friend will not say, "Never,"
'Cause the welcome will not end.

Focus on Friendship in New Year


Friendships are worth reflecting on as we close one year and begin another. And as a school chaplain to WCS in central Massachusetts and as a speaker to youth across New England, friendship described throughout the Bible has been the most prominent theme I have returned to at the close of 2024. 

For example, my oldest daughter and I hosted a 4-film Advent series, closing with Tokyo Godfathers, a modern Christmas classic featuring three unlikely friends who discover a baby in a trash heap. And during the last week of December, I had the humble honor and joy to close the year with friends speaking to youth connected with Covenant Chapel, Calvary Baptist Church, Church of the Ascent, Grace Fellowship and more at a retreat at Camp Wightman in Connecticut about philia, the greatest love every one of us is invited to receive from Jesus that He talks about in John 15:13). And, so it seems, the rest of the world has been focusing on friendship as of late as well. Here are some quick 2+ minute videos that provide a glimpse as to why:




In light of all of the above, I want to celebrate even more in 2025 new acquaintances and steadfast friends that are precious to me. I plan to treasure them as well as seek out new friendships in the coming year, including potential soul friends (ex. read Eugene Peterson's words in "Knowing & Naming True Soul Friends"). What a gift it is to have friends who are honest with our faults, encouraging with our strengths, and remain faithful and true through thick and thin.

No Greater Love than Philia

In steadfast and fresh ways, faithful friends give us glimpses of the "friend who is closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24), the love of the greatest Friend "who laid down His life for His friends" (John 15:13). He is the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever in His friendship to us (Hebrews 13:8).

Jesus' faithfulness to me,
my family and friends,
Emmaus City Church, and
my neighbors in the city of Worcester
continues to showcase the greatest love,
a love that says, 


"Wonder" artwork, Noemi Picazo, based on R.J. Palacio's book about friendship

I wonder at such grace. 

That's why in 2025 I continue to cheer what Kings Kaleidescope have done with their "Auld Lang Syne" remix on the album, "Joy Has Dawned." In learning to remember again the greatest Friend we might have considered too "old long since" from "days gone by" this past year, this ancient and new update of "Auld Lang Syne" reminds us not to forget the Friend who never leaves us nor forsakes us.

One of my favorite lyrics from the song is " ... Let living water satisfy the thirsty without price! We’ll take a cup of kindness yet all glory be to Christ! ... " This past year I received His cup of kindness again and again from good friends. This coming year I pray I get to share more of His cup of kindness with friends old and new. 

And with Emmaus City Church, I look forward to closing the first mass of the new year singing this song together as friends.

All Glory Be to Christ

(Tune of “Auld Lang Syne”)

Kings Kaleidoscope, 2012 A.D.
+ Metro Church Philly Worship Team

Should nothing of our efforts stand,
No legacy survive,
Unless the Lord does raise the house
In vain its builders strive.
To you who boast tomorrow's gain,
Tell me, "What is your life?"
A mist that vanishes at dawn,
All glory be to Christ!

All glory be to Christ our King!
All glory be to Christ!
His rule and reign we'll ever sing,
“All glory be to Christ!”

His will be done, His Kingdom come 
On earth as is above,
Who is Himself our daily bread, 
Praise Him, the Lord of love!
Let living water satisfy 
The thirsty without price.
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
All glory be to Christ!
(Chorus)

His faithfulness, our righteousness, 
God’s law He satisfied;
He bled and died and unified 
His Church, His love, His bride!
Our Shepherd, King, Redeemer, Christ, 
Our steadfast hope and life!
We worship You, repent, and serve, 
All glory be to Christ!
(Chorus)

In unity we’ll stand as one, 
As family we’ll go
Shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand
Into the great unknown.
When on the day the great I AM, 
The faithful and the true,
The Lamb who was for sinners slain 
Is making all things new.
(Chorus)

Christ is all,

Rev. Mike “Sully” Sullivan


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Location: Worcester, MA, USA

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