You've Got A Friend

You just call out my name
And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running...

Click here to play the song sung by the composer, Carole King. 

I am one of millions humming along since 1971. Thank you, Carole.

I call attention to Carole King's compelling song here because it succeeds where my prose may fail. I'll tell my story anyway, or rather, our story. What follows is a brief account of many friends pooling their energy, time and resources for a shared vision. We didn't know what we were doing. We made it up as we went along, and we did good work in spite of setbacks. 

I am going to start part way through chapter four, in conversation with a man who had recently arrived with his family from a troubled country in Central America, refugees from political violence, ill at ease in a new country with a different culture, language and climate, needing help and not knowing whom to trust. He says in laboured English, "Dennis, you are my unique friend." Because I excel at word play, I understand that he means I am his only friend, not that I am peculiar compared to his other friends, and I find that I am happy to be his friend whatever the adjective.

What did I do to deserve such trust, me a dedicated loner introvert who spent his days bothered beyond exhaustion by classrooms of needy teenagers, me who tolerated nice people now and then between spells of solitude in the garden? I was his only friend!

But that is just my short paragraph in chapter four. Chapter One began with Dorothy, a few years after the United States ended their campaign in Vietnam and many Vietnamese were looking for a safe home elsewhere. Dorothy was moved by the distressing news of families fleeing in boats. She asked a church official if the church could help out. He answered yes and then asked what she was going to do about it. So, with his approval and encouragement, Dorothy addressed a district business meeting including congregations in Guelph, Cambridge, Kitchener, Elora and Grand Valley. People were interested. A committee was formed. Plans were made. In 1979 the first family of Boat People arrived in Guelph. We were their willing friends helping where we could while they learned the language, shopped for shoes, received medical and dental care, went to school, became employed, bought a house.

Oh, ain’t it good to know that you’ve got a friend

When people can be so cold ...

We answered the call four more times over the years, each time learning from earlier experience and each family with a unique story of escape from conflict. Along the way we involved hosts from three of the district congregations and many volunteers and donors within the church and the larger communities, like an avalanche of willing helpers.

We haven't finished chapter five. Could be that there will be a chapter six. Up to us. You may have noticed that the world hasn't gotten any gentler.  But we still have this song to keep eyes moist and bring hope to replace despair. You've got a friend.

Listen again, this time to James Taylor with Carole King on piano.