As Willie Nelson sings, “I’m on the road again. The life I love is making music with my friends.” Theodosia (my car) and I are happily motoring to Alexander City this morning to spend the night with my dearest friend. Our happy music will be laughter. We don’t have to do anything special. Just porch sitting and talking and laughing, mixed with a thousand games of fetch with her Charlie Brown, is all we need. We’ll probably fit in some thrift storing and DQ blizzard eating. When she retires we’ll be burning up the road between Roanoke and Alexander City. I can’t wait!

A true friend is like no other. I think this song, You’ve Got A Friend In Me, from the movie Toy Story captures friendship at its best. This is for all my friends. I love y’all and I thank you for your friendship.

You’ve Got A Friend In Me — “You’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me. When the road looks rough ahead and you’re miles and miles from your nice warm bed, you just remember what your old pal said. Boy, you’ve got a friend in me. Yeah, you’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got troubles, I’ve got ’em too. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you. We stick together and we see it through cause you’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me. Some other folks might be a little bit smarter than I am, bigger and stronger, too. Maybe. But none of them will ever love you the way I do. It’s me and you, boy. And as the years go by our friendship will never die. You’re gonna see it’s our destiny. You’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me. You’ve got a friend in me.” — Lyrics by Randy Newman

In John 15:12-13, Jesus commands us to love each other. “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” True friendship is an emotional connection of respect and trust with a shared joy of spending time together. In a religious context God is our friend through our fellowship with him.

If we continue reading in John, verse 15 uses the word “friend” to describe the relationship God wants with those who follow him. In a religious context God can be considered our friend. God desires a relationship with us and wants a spiritual connection with our lives. God cares for us and provides for both our physical and spiritual needs.

God offers wisdom and direction as he guides us through the challenges of life. When we experience sorrow he comforts us with solace and peace. God’s love is unconditional and unwavering. We don’t have to be perfect to be loved. Just like we confide in our friends we can talk to God anytime about anything. He’s always listening. We can always count on God’s love.

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” — C.S. Lewis