Friends and Cheers...and belonging

Isn't it everyone's longing and hope in this world to find a place that you belong?  Isn't that the hope of every person living?  We want to find acceptance, understanding and people who will love us for who we are...truly love us regardless of our faults and flaws.  Isn't this why television shows like 'Cheers' and the more contemporary 'Friends' became so popular in the first place?  We find identity within characters who have found this formula don't we?  We, perhaps covet their meaningful relationships because we too crave this type of deep level of fulfillment in others as well.  

Sure the characters are flawed, have issues, aren't perfect and yet these characters had people coming back for more each week to find out how their favorite fictional characters were getting on.  These syndicated comedy shows have been so popular that for Cheers they've aired followup episodes to please its following, and rumors are they are planning this type of event for the cast fan base of 'Friends' as well.  

Perhaps it's loneliness that drives these franchises to popularity, or perhaps they touch on a very familiar topic and emotion in the majority of our world...we want to be loved and find belonging.  

Perhaps a passage of scripture that seems obscure or a book in the bible you don't often read says this to us about God's love and our search for belonging in this life:  Zephaniah 3:17 "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Perhaps some of us feel lonely in this life...know that God is with you!  Perhaps some of us feel unloved or unlovable...know that God 'will quiet you (and your heartache) with his love'!    Perhaps some of us worry about how our bills will be paid, where our next meal will come from or even the relationships (no matter how broken they may appear)...God will rejoice over you!  

Do you need to be cheered up today?  Are you in need of Friends?....I know sorry about that play on words there, but God wants to be involved in your life and to remind you that you aren't alone, you are never alone!  He loves you so much and wants you to find fulfillment in this life through others as well as your relationship to Him.  

Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.” -Hellen Keller