From the Pastoral Care Coordinator: The practice of leaning on each other

Lean On Me (Lyrics by Bill Withers)

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow

But if we are wise, we know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on...

For it won't be long till I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs that you won't let show

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on...

If there is a load you have to bear that you can't carry

I'm right up the road, I'll share your load

If you just call me.....Call me.....If you need a friend, Call me...

The other night I was blessed to attend a concert at the Green Music Center produced by the radio program Mountain Stage, from West Virginia hosted by Kathy Mattea. Three full hours of American folk, blues, soul, and a sprinkling of R and B! A bevy of talented musicians had us laughing, crying, and rocking in our seats!

Finally, the whole cast is spread out like a musical feast on stage before us. Festooned with bright white, blue, yellow and purple lighting, the instrumentalists play the first familiar chords, and soon the whole audience is singing along to the well-known lyrics of Lean On Me. My brain is flooding with memories of teen years and for a few sweet minutes I am nineteen again!

And then it hits me! The Spirit whispers, “Hear the vision for the pastoral care ministry that’s tucked into these lyrics!” You and I know that this song is all about caring for each other!Paul, in the 14th chapter of Romans, confides, We who are strong should feel obliged to bear infirmities of the weak; and not to please only ourselves. Let every man attempt to please his neighbor for the good purpose of building him up... Translated into 1972 rock and roll version, we are directed to listen to fellow sister or brother, to offer a hand, an arm, a shoulder or our backs to bear another’s load, to offer our help generously, and, by swallowing our pride, to ask for help when we need it.

We have it all backwards sometimes. We think that being weak is BAD. Nope, it’s just reality sometimes. We are all heading for that time when we’ll need increasing help from others, right? Practice receiving now. Admitting you need help is part of the maturing process. And later, it may make your transition easier.

Or is your stretch to become ever more observant and responsive to your family here at Incarnation? Some folks are shy, embarrassed, or even ashamed to ask, because they don’t want to be a burden and we as family members can sense when someone is struggling but not saying anything. How can we learn to sensitively approach that person to offer support? That’s part of our maturing process, praying over and searching for those tender, non-judgmental words to show you care.

It’s all to the good, to grow our character to be more like that of Jesus Christ and to bring Glory to our Creator.

If you need a friend, Call me...

- Doreen Van Leeuwen, Pastoral Care Coordinator [email protected]