Cheers!

This week has been a bit nostalgic. Earlier this week I read that the bartender at the original "Cheers" bar, the one that the television show was based on, was laid off. Immediately, I recounted the show that brought Dennis and I many laughs. And of course, I began to sing the theme song:

Where Everybody Knows Your Name
by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo
Cheers Lyrics
"Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows Your name.
You wanna go where people know, people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows your name..."

I can remember Dennis and I discussing how great it would be to have a place like Cheers to hang out in - where everybody did know your name and they were always glad to see you. We had a place to hang out in our college years that was a bit like Cheers (please, don't tell my mom!). I must admit it was great to walk into the room and know most everyone there. It gave us a sense of belonging. Of course, time passed and we all left college and went our different ways.

This week as I listened to the lyrics, I realized that no matter how many "Cheers" you find in your lifetime, they really never last. Even on the show things changed: Coach died; Diane left; Frasier moved on to his own show and split with Lillith. Woody and Rebecca showed up and Sam was really bald!

However, over the years I've discovered there is another place I can go where someone knows my name and is ALWAYS glad to see me - - in the presence of God. Not only does he know my name; he knows everything about me. Most importantly, he never gets cancelled or moves on to better things. He is the one thing I can always count on.

Making my way in the world today sure does take a lot!
Taking a break from all my worries should would help a lot!
Sometimes I want to go where somebody knows my name!
And He's always glad I came...

Wouldn't it be great if we chose to be there all of the time?

"... He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." John 10:3

My prayer:
Lord God, I thank you that you know me by name and you are always joyful to have me in your presence. Help me to always seek your presence and to accept the comfort, joy and freedom from worries that you have for me there. Amen.


In case I hit your nostalgic button as well, here's a video of the theme song and clips from the show. I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6HI1pjfHlc&feature=related