With the exception of the Tower of Pisa, structures that lean are usually viewed with some amount of concern. The concern is that they will collapse without provocation or warning. It does not seem to matter if it is a home, a barn, or a garage. If there’s a tree in your yard and it’s leaning toward the house, taking it down before it falls is the prudent thing to do. Things that lean make us uncomfortable. The bigger they are, the greater the discomfort.
We frequently use leaning when describing political positions as in, “He’s leaning slightly to the right of Attila the Hun,” or “That commie pinko bedwetter leans so far left he shouldn’t have been allowed to run for office.” The greater the perceived lean in one direction, the stronger the negative descriptive terms.
The dock, gate, and portal in today’s image remind me of some older people I know. Their frames lean one way or another and their gait is a bit unsteady. Despite the concern of others they keep moving forward. Some use canes, walkers, or rollators to aid their progress. No longer able to stand up straight, leaning has become their constant companion.
The events of last year had me leaning over so far, I felt like a ski jumper. For as long as I can remember, I have been blessed with an internal gyroscope, which, no matter how far I lean in one direction, it brings me back to an upright position in a short time. 2020 reduced its effectiveness and I have struggled at times this year to recover my equilibrium. Yet, here I am, still standing.
As challenging as it was, 2020 taught me how to lean better and what to lean in to. I will continue to lean into my faith and leave the heavy lifting to God. He’s much better at that than I am. I have been leaning into Monica and she into me. That has strengthened our relationship. We have encouraged our family and friends to lean into us and have let them know there will be times when we will need their support.
I may be tilted one way or another and look a little rickety, but I’ve got a solid foundation. Knowing what and who to lean on makes all the difference.
