Church family

One of the coolest things about church is how it is like a family. It must be the only group of people where it is possible to have friends who are old enough to be my grandparents or young enough to be my children.
We were talking about this at cell tonight and I lokoed around the room, thinking about the people there who I think of as my big/little brothers/sisters, or aunts and uncles. It was very cool. And it's not just in my local church - I have brothers and sisters all over the UK, and an uncle in South Africa! But specifically thinking about my local church, Kings, I am amazingly lucky to have such a great family around me.

For Good

At last, I think I have found the song I've been looking for, for years. So many songs are about romantic love. There are hardly any songs about the beauty of platonic love. Now (actually a while ago, but it's come back to me recently) I have found such a song - For Good, from the musical Wicked. Other than this song, I can't think of any good songs about the joy and significance of a friendship. Here is a Youtube link, and below are the lyrics.

ELPHABA:
I'm limited
Just look at me I'm limited
And just look at you you can do all I couldn't do
Glinda,
So now its up to you
For both of us
Now it's up to you

GLINDA:
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led to those who help us most to grow
If we let them, and we help them in return
Well I dont know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you.

Like a comet pulled from orbit as it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better
But, because I knew you
I have been changed for good.

ELPHABA:
It well may be
That we will never meet again in this lifetime
So let me say before we part
So much of me is made from what I learned from you
You'll be with me like a hand print on my heart
Now whatever way our stories end
I know you have rewritten mine
By being my friend

Like a ship blown from it's mooring by a wind off the sea
Like a seed dropped by a sky bird in a distant wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you

GLINDA:
Because I knew you

BOTH:
I have been changed for good

ELPHABA:
And just to clear the air, I ask forgiveness
For the things I've done you blame me for

GLINDA:
But then I guess we know there's blame to share

BOTH:
And none of it seems to matter any more

GLINDA (ELPHABA):
Like a comet pulled from orbit
(Like a ship blown from its mooring)
As it passes a sun
(By a wind off the sea)
Like a stream that meets a boulder
(Like a seed dropped by a bird)
Halfway through the wood
(In a wood)

BOTH:
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
I do believe I have been changed for the better

GLINDA:
And because I knew you

ELPHABA:
Because I knew you

BOTH:
Because I knew you
I have been changed
For good