Aladdin And Friendship With God

My mom passed away in 1993 when I was 17. During the weeks and months that followed I experienced a ton of restlessness, fear, and anxiety. At some point I had been given a CD of the soundtrack of Aladdin (it has always been my favorite Disney movie). During that dark period of time I got in the habit of listening to the soundtrack as I fell asleep. To this day I can quote those songs word for word.

Over the Memorial Day weekend my son and I went to see the live action version. I anticipated really enjoying the movie and it did not disappoint. I thought it was great, well acted, and well sung despite some poor reviews. That being said, I didn’t anticipate having an emotional response to the songs that helped me sleep 25 years ago. The emotion wasn’t an ugly cry, the emotion was gratitude.

Grateful for my son who was eating popcorn by my side. Grateful for my incredible wife and daughter who were hanging with family for the afternoon. Grateful for both sides of our family that we got to see on that trip. Grateful for faith, church, and spiritual family. Grateful for the joy, hope, and peace that only Jesus can bring. Grateful for the work that God has done in my life the last 25 years.

One of my favorite songs in the film is the song, “You ain’t never had a friend like me.” It is a song about how Aladdin becomes friends with this powerful genie. Aladdin’s entire world can change with 3 well thought out wishes. By the end of the movie it isn’t the wishes that have changed Aladdin’s life it’s the friendship with the genie.

I was reminded of something Jesus said to His early followers in John 15:

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.

Jesus is a great friend. As I reflect on the last couple decades of my life I am overwhelmed by that truth. He has been so good to me. He has been so present with me. He has been so gracious with me.

Are you overwhelmed, tired, or hurting? Look to Jesus. He isn’t the genie that will give you everything you wish for but He is a great friend. You might find out that is thing you were looking for all along.