Someone Has Your Back

May We All Notice This When We Need It

As I was walking our dogs one unusually cool summer morning, a young man walked behind us. Our dogs were stopping to sniff every scent along the way. I think of this sniffing exercise as their dog social media, and they like to leave their own posts along the way. I am not sure if they can “restack,” but they sure try.

As he caught up to us, the young man said, “Cute dogs.” I smiled and paused. The young man looked like he had a lot going on in his mind. I couldn’t tell what he was processing, but I said, “Thanks. Are you enjoying this cool morning for a change?”

He said, “I actually like it warmer.” He was wearing a Tommy Hilfiger puff jacket over a hoody sweatshirt. I was in short sleeves.

I said, “I’m old enough that I like each of the seasons.” The dogs stopped, and he stopped with us. With a furrowed brow he replied. “I’m not old enough yet for that. I’m just 23. I don’t like the cold.” I could tell his brain was working overtime as he struggled to get out his next thought.

After a pause his voice lowered, “I spent last winter in the hospital.” I got the feeling that he was trying to work through it. His face brightened a bit, though it looked like it took some effort. “I’m feeling better every week now.”

I said, “It sounds like you’ve needed a lot of courage for that healing.” He nodded. I continued, “I hope someone has your back, helping you in that healing.”

He stopped, looked me in the eye for a second, and then looked away. He spoke softly now. “Yeah…my mom. My mom has always been there for me. My mom is always there.”

We got to the next intersection. He went to the left. I went with the dogs to the right. But I haven’t forgotten that short interaction. What that young man was struggling with has stuck with me, and the courage it took. And who had his back. “My mom is always there.”

These days are hard. It seems like every time we have hit rock bottom, powerful people drain more water from the pool. UFC fights on the White House lawn. Firing Black and women military officers and taking down their achievements. The Supreme Court guts voting rights, while states redistrict with wild racist abandon. I think about the people in Iran, Lebanon, Cuba.

Is anybody noticing how hot our world is getting? Almost seems as if the climate were changing like scientists have been saying for over 40 years. A constant push for AI data centers, as if that is what we need most of all. Geo Group builds detention camps willy nilly despite the awful conditions.

At times I feel like that young man, processing as much as I can in facing the day. I wonder if someone has our back. Or how we can have one another’s back despite it all. And then something happens to give me renewed perspective.

On a random Tuesday this week, I got to see something remarkable at a BBQ at a center in St. Paul where homeless people have space to gather, eat, get a shower, and find resources. People from church and the community helped to serve the BBQ along with staff there. There was time for chatting and sharing resources along with burgers and watermelon and corn on the cob.

One man who had been homeless but now has stable housing stood up to share a message. He spoke through a little bullhorn. “No matter how down it gets, no matter how low it feels, there’s someone who has your back.” I perked up my ears.

He talked about how when he came to St. Paul and did not have anywhere to turn, one of the housing advocates there got him connected to resources. He pointed to her, to say thanks. She was there, trying to connect more people to possibility. It was remarkable. All those struggles gathered in that place for people trying to get stable housing, and the message they wanted to share despite it all was “There is someone who has your back.”

The insanity of the day’s news dropped away for a moment and let me see what matters. I thought of the young man whose mother was always there for him. I noticed the guy who brought a container full of cooked corn and buttered seasonings to serve those who were looking for housing. It was powerful to see people who had experienced the streets and came to offer support to those facing it now.

When the man said “it may not feel like it, but there’s someone who has your back,” that message resounded.

Why cannot our elected leaders and our tech gurus and our power-hungry wealth mongers see these people? Their worth? The gifts they have? Why not make more of an effort to “have their back” today?

No matter how low it seems right now, I hope there is someone who has your back. I hope you know - no matter how hard your life is right now - that there is someone like that young man’s mother who wants healing for you. That there is someone like that grateful man who is rooting for you.

And I also hope you get to experience the joy our dogs feel when they sniff every single blade of grass on their walk. Who knows what you will find.