Whom will you lean on?

Do you believe love can change any atmosphere? I do. Someone once said, “love looks like something.” Could it be that we are designed to lift each other up in times of trouble?

When I was eight years old, I loved to walk down the street with a small radio in my hand, singing along to the beats of Motown and The Beatles, moving my body like the rock stars of the past. There is one song in particular that would get my friends and me going every time: “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. Do you remember it? “Lean on me, when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on.” Isn’t that a great theme song for real love and true friendship?

It bothers me that our society seems to have shifted from this heart of love. The media appears to focus on our differences: Black, White, Latino, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, French, English, etc. So much division and even hate. Taylor Swift says it so well: “haters gonna hate, hate, hate...”

Because I’m a follower of Christ, I believe I should be different. Paul called our ministry “a ministry of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18, NIV). He said we are to love above all things. I encourage you to adopt this real heart of love and let it permeate your core. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8, NIV). My approach uses three questions that will help me love others when I meet them. Try these out and see if they will work for you:

1. “Hi, my name is Paul Marc. What’s yours?”
2. “Where are you from?”
3. “What do you do for a living?”

Then I listen to them, and I love them.

I believe the song “Lean on Me” talks about building relationships where people can lean on you and your love gets them through tough times.

Did you notice the Bible usually focuses on the whole person? Why? Because God cares about everyone personally, and so should we. If we focus on others, our eyes depart from our problems. Love-filled people think and care about others. You change lives with love because you are a miracle.

Your friend, Paul Marc Goulet