Looking at meaning behind another traditional song

First let me say, per last week's column - I do not need any offers of birds as presents. I was just joking.Having discussed one song last week, I thought it would be fun to take a minute and look at another seasonal song.At the end of every year many of us sing, or at least listen to, a song about "auld lang syne." What in the world is that about?The Internet was helpful here. It turns out this phrase and song, written by poet Robert Burns, means "old long ago" or "times gone by."I remember my mother playing Guy Lombardo's haunting version of this song.The basic idea of the song seems to be that we should stop and remember the past. Other modern songs that echo the same sentiment include "Remember When" by Alan Jackson, and "Try to Remember" by The Brothers Four.I am sure there are others, but these are two that come to mind. That is good advice in these fleeting, turbulent times, where attention spans are a mile wide and an inch deep. Particularly since 2006 is history. A Bible teacher once told me, "History is His (God's) story."There is a fine line between living in the past and giving the past what it deserves with proper reminiscing. After all, the present has its roots in the past, just as the future has its roots in the present.Tell me what you are doing today and I will tell you what you most likely will be doing tomorrow. So remember to "take a cup of kindness yet" as you remember the old times formerly known as 2006. Last week James Brown and former President Gerald Ford died. They say it comes in threes.I guess the third one to die was 2006. Rest in peace!Tom Rupp is a former pastorliving in Folsom. Sendcomments or questions to truppfolsom@yahoo.com. Joking aside. he was actually hoping for a pet toucan for Christmas.