Aaron not Hur

As I was driving home the other evening, the song came on “With A Little Help from My Friends.”  I am not a Beatles’ fan, never have been; however, the words of this song do resonant with me.  Shortly thereafter, a James Taylor tune came on that I dearly love and used to sing to my babies as I rocked them: “You’ve Got A Friend.”  At that moment, my thoughts turned to my youngest son, Aaron, in Minnesota, whom I named after the Old Testament Aaron, the one who helped Moses when he grew tired and weary.  Three occurrences with the same theme, three friends helping, that almost requires me to write!

The last hymn in the church hymnal when I was growing up was “Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling.”  I love this portion of it, as it is this that inspired me to name my youngest Aaron, and you will sing this at my funeral one day:

If you cannot be a watchman, 

Standing high on Zion’s wall

Pointing out the path to heaven,       

Offering life and peace to all,   

With your prayers and with your bounties       

You can do what God demands;     

You can be like faithful Aaron,         

Holding up the prophet’s hands.

Let none hear you idly saying,

’ There is nothing I can do,’

While the multitudes are dying

And the master calls for you.

Take the task he gives you gladly;

Let his work your pleasure be.

Answer quickly when he calls you,                                                               

‘Here am I. Send me, send me!’ “

In Exodus 17 it says that:  When Moses’ hands grew tired, Aaron and Hur took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up–one on one side, one on the other–so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  Do feel encouraged to read the full story. 

(As an aside, when I read this over, I think Hur got slighted a bit.  He did as much as Aaron in this story; however, I don’t think I could have named my son “Hur.”  😊  That may have been confusing for some.) 

Many of us have times in life where we need someone to hold up our arms for the battle we are facing, whatever that might be, or hold our hands when they are tired, or give us a spot to sit when we are weary.  Stephen Ministers at my church are there to do this.  They are waiting to do this.  They are trained and poised to help.  They are underutilized, and I wonder if it is because we are taught to get through things on our own.  

My recent unfair car situation and financial problems pretty much swallowed me up.  It was hard to think clearly at times, hard to sleep, yet hard to get out of bed…..it consumed my life for a time.  I knew I needed someone to hold me up, someone to pray for me when the words wouldn’t come, someone to point me to the light at the end of the tunnel.  That happened, and through it all my son Aaron kept the  promise made to me almost 20 years ago when I became divorced – he would make me smile or make me laugh each day about something.

We need those people in our lives like Aaron in Exodus and my Aaron in Minnesota.  If you need someone I am here.  If you need someone, I know a Stephen Minister that would love to befriend you for a season.  If you need someone, don’t try to go it alone. 

God loves you and so do I!

Hope