Leaning

In opening worship this morning, the music director, Jorge Lockward, gave a short introduction to the song, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms."

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

He said that most people, when they consider this song, think of the idea of leaning in the arms of God. And that's true, but if we are the body of Christ then we act as Christ to each other. When we lean on the Everlasting Arms, sometimes that means leaning on our community of faith -- leaning on our friends and family -- leaning on the gift of grace that God has given us in other people.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

I'm blessed, as the song says, to find peace leaning on others. It is a gift of grace to know that I have other's arms on which to lean. How is it, I wonder, that those who do not have that kind of support structure get through difficult times? I asked that question once, and the person to whom I asked it said, "Sometimes they don't."

Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.