Blog

When you're down and troubled, And you need some lovin' care
And nothin', nothin' is goin' right
Close your eyes and think of me, And soon I will be there
To brighten up even your darkest night

(Chorus)

You just call out my name, And you know, wherever I am
I'll come runnin' To see you again
Winter, spring, summer or fall, All you have to do is call
And I'll be there, You've got a friend

If the sky above you Grows dark and full of clouds
And that old north wind begins to blow
Keep your head together And call my name out loud
Soon you'll hear me knockin' at your door

(Chorus)

Now, ain't it good to know that you've got a friend When people can be so cold?
They'll hurt you, yes, and desert you And take your soul if you let them
Oh, but don't you let them

(Chorus)

You've got a friend

Ain't it good to know you've got a friend
Ain't it good to know, ain't it good to know
Ain't it good to know
You've got a friend
Oh, yeah, now, you've got a friend
Yeah baby, you've got a friend
Oh, yeah, you've got a friend

I took a deep dive into this beautiful and powerful song by Carole King (1971), and for the first time, I heard it in a different way. While the song defines what a good friend is, I took it one step further: Can this song be talking about God? Take a moment now, and reread the lyrics, or re-sing them, as I’m sure you did. 

Can this also be talking about God? We don’t talk enough about God and God’s role in our lives. I can attest since I’ve been in Pittsburgh that I’ve called to God many, many times, and to me, this song rings true. I’ve called to God and God has been there for me. Now before you think, “This poor man, after all he’s been through, he needs help”. Actually, I do get help, and one of my helpers (I look for the helpers) is God, answering my prayers, soothing my spirit, consoling me, supporting me, uplifting me, reassuring me. 

Perhaps we are asking the wrong question? Instead of “Is God really there?”, a better question might be “Are you attuned to receiving God?”. In old parlance, is your receiver set to the proper channel to receive God? How would you know if God is present, and lastly, are you welcoming enough to let God in? 

Our ever-busier lives apportion our time to work, family and then the somewhat nebulous free time (Do we ever really have free time?). Most of us borrow from one of these pots when something comes up, as we’ve run out of time. Sadly, we cannot bank time for use at a later opportunity. Once it passes, it is gone. Judaism recognized early on the challenges of allotting time for God and set specific moments in the day to reconnect: Shacharit (the morning service), Mincha (the afternoon service), Maariv (the evening service) and Shabbat and Festivals. Opportunities to reconnect or stay connected to God are not always prescribed times. There can be moments when a brief pause in work provides just the right opportunity to talk to God. Perhaps it’s while you are out jogging, or mowing the lawn, or driving in the car. The time is there. The need is also there. Is the will there? Know for certain that God is there.