Forever Friend

Everybody needs a little help sometime
No one stands alone
Makes no difference if you’re just a child like me
Or a king upon a throne
For there are no exceptions
We all stand in the line
Everybody needs a friend
Let me tell you of mine

Country singer Charlie Landsborough has sung in Lowestoft on many occasions. His personal faith informs his music. Here he talks about God as his ‘Forever Friend’.

He’s my forever friend
My leave-me-never friend
From darkest night to rainbow’s end
He’s my forever friend

Over the years I’ve often come back to this song. Faith becomes complicated by rules, theology, traditions and expectations; people get in the way. I return to a God who’s simply my constant, consistent ‘Forever Friend’.

His friendship isn’t dependent on my goodness, behaviour or spiritual performance. He’s my totally dependable companion through nights of darkness and rainbows of hope.

…Musing on some good friends who are going through dark nights… and their need for a ‘Forever Friend’…

Even when I turn away He cares for me
His love no one can shake
Even as I walk away He’s by my side
With every breath I take…

Towards the end of the song Landsborough is specific. His friend is the Jesus who died on a cross.

Musing… Jesus’ words: ‘Greater love has no-one than this, that he lay down his life for his friend. You are my friends…’

It’s this friendship that is with me each day. It’s this friendship that is the model and motivation for the way I treat others…

Musing… Jesus’ words: ‘Love one another as I have loved you…’

If you still don’t know the one I’m talking of
I think it’s time you knew
Long ago and far away upon a cross
My friend died for you
So if you’d like to meet Him
And don’t know what to do
Ask my friend into your heart
And He’ll be your friend too.