Happy New Year! I started singing "Auld Lang Syne" to my kids this week and realized that I had no idea what any of the song meant. So, I went to the source for information, Wikipedia, and found some translations of the phrase. Literally it means "old long since" in Scots. Some more modern translations would be "for old time's sake" or "to the good ole days."
In the U.S., we sing the song to ring in the New Year. But in Scotland, it's sung for different occasions, including the last song of a dance. In Taiwan, it's sung at graduations and funerals. In Japan, some restaurants play it to let customers know they're closing for the day. I gather the take home message is, "This is it! The end! Goodbye 2007...goodbye high school and great grandpa...get out of my restaurant." Or maybe it's really just another Gaelic drinking song. (No prejudice intended as I married into an Irish family, formerly the O'Morans.) I still think it's a drinking song, though. I suppose the meaning of this well known tune shall remain a bit unclear.
I've been contemplating for weeks what I hope to do differently in 2008. I can make a list of 100 ways I want to change or 100 goals I have for myself, my marriage and my kids. I'm sure some of those items on my list will happen, by the grace of God, and others will not. I bet there will be many things that happen in 2008 that I am not expecting or asking for...possibly some really hard things. I imagine there will be wonderful things that happen too, that I will have never imagined. I think of the verse, "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it's the Lord's purpose that prevails." (Prov. 19:21)
So, in 2008 I want to live life in the power of the Spirit and not in my own strength. I want to "BE" more than "DO." I want to care more about people than things. I want to serve rather than be served. I want to worship God instead of my own desires. I want to wait patiently on the Lord and trust Him with each new day that He gives. I want to "taste and see that the Lord is good." That's something I can drink to!
"And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne."
3 comments:
Those are some good thoughts, Sherri O'Moran!
Happy New Year! I didn't know what it meant either. Thanks!
ummm.... so I've never even heard of that song. I'm sure it's the tune you always hear on Dick Clark's at midnight, but I had NO idea there were words.
Post a Comment