Still Friends...Ten Years After The Last One

So no one told them life was gonna be this way. When they hit TV screens back in 1994, the six actors in the US sitcom 'Friends' did not expect to make ten series or achieve global stardom. Nor did Jennifer Aniston imagine that female fans would be rushing to their hairdresser, asking for ‘a Rachel, please’. But viewers on both sides of the pond took the characters of Monica, Ross, Joey, Chandler, Phoebe and Rachel to their hearts. And when the series concluded ten years ago this month, it was the end of an era.

In May 2004, highlighting the special bond that the New York gang had with the public, many fans held 'Friends' parties to see the final episode together. More than 50 million Americans watched as Rachel ‘got off the plane’ to be with Ross. When the gang finally left Monica and Chandler’s apartment to stroll into their future, it was a very big deal.

But thanks to reruns of the series on the UK’s Comedy Central, viewers are still hanging out with the friends. They can laugh all over again as they watch Phoebe croon her way through the song ‘Smelly Cat’. Their heartstrings can be plucked as they revisit Monica and Chandler’s wedding day. And they can still relate to the feelings of heartache faced by Ross and Rachel when their relationship hits the rocks.

Back in 2001, actor James Michael Tyler - who played coffee shop owner Gunther - told 'The War Cry' why he thought the show was so popular. He said: ‘Fans identify either with one or more of the characters or they know someone just like them. Also they identify with the situation a character’s going through. The show’s very true to life.’

Perhaps he was right. After all, whether we live in New York, old York or anywhere else, good and bad days happen. Sometimes life seems sunny. We have job satisfaction, great friends and good health. But at other times we feel as though we’re stuck in second gear. We go through a break-up, we lose our job or we make an embarrassing mistake (known as ‘pulling a Monica’). We look at others and want what they have, because, let’s face it, could our life be any more depressing.

Even with the best of friends surrounding us, we can feel misunderstood. We worry that if we keep on burdening our friends with our woes, they’ll grow tired of us and leave. We think no one truly knows or understands how we feel.

But someone does. Jesus is a friend who will never give up on us or tire of hearing from us. Instead, he enjoys every minute we spend with him.

In the Bible, Jesus invites everyone: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ (Matthew 11:28 New International Version). He makes it clear that we don’t have to pretend to be something we’re not. Nor do we have to worry that it’s too early or late to call on him. Day and night, he is ready to welcome us.

Whatever our situation, Jesus promises he’ll be there. And his friendship lasts for eternity.

UK & Ireland War Cry 3 May 2014