A retired Canadian man is using the power of listening to remind others that they are not alone. "The journey is called 'You Are Not Alone - I Will Listen,'" says Paul Jenkinson. "That's what I'm doing in Manitoba, which is the sixth province I've been in since this journey. I put out two chairs and a table and a sign that says 'You are not alone - I will listen.'" Jenkinson has done his share of listening over the years after working 50 years in social services. He'll be speaking at Canadian Mennonite University while in Winnipeg, and he also spoke to the social services department at Booth University recently. "I've worked with refugees, prisoners, and I've worked with the Salvation Army as the coordinator at a youth hostel and street outreach program in Windsor, ON." .embed-container { position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; overflow: hidden; max-width: 100%; } .embed-container iframe, .embed-container object, .embed-container embed { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; } Even though Jenkinson retired a few years ago, he wanted to do something meaningful with his extra time, rather than trying out a new hobby. That's why he sets up his table and chairs in many communities, to simply listen to people's stories. "Time is a gift, and I'm actually putting time back into my life. I did turn 71 on this journey. For me, sitting with people is addressing a social need. My sense is that, after COVID, we shrunk our social circle. People have been having a hard time coming out of that. They've become habituated to being alone or with a small group." Jenkinson knows how polarizing and divisive politics and opinions have made people. However, he has found that listening is the key to breaking down walls and barriers. "By listening, I discover what is behind some of the things that they say. And then we become friends. By becoming friends, it's hard to harm each other. It's hard to turn each other into something to be feared." A Range of Stories Jenkinson says that the people who walk by his sign range from people unaware of what he's doing, to those who are curious, and others who take up the invitation to chat and sit in the chair next to him. "I've had people come up and say, 'We're pregnant.' Or 'We just got engaged under that tree, 15 minutes ago.' I get to be a part of this very positive piece." Jenkinson has had people walk by who are moved to tears simply by reading his sign, letting him know that's what they needed to hear that day. "A woman said, 'You see those two women coming along behind me? Those are my sisters.' They looked like they were dragging a weight. She said, "That man and his daughter? That's my brother. His wife died two days ago on Mother's Day.' I put my hand over my heart and said, 'My goodness.' He came along and I told him I heard what happened and said, 'My heart to your heart, my daughter died on Mother's Day.'" While the exchange was quite short, Jenkinson did offer the man his card to connect further if he wanted. "Maybe he saw an older man who was still standing, still moving forward, still surviving while holding grief with dignity." More in Common than Not Jenkinson is a firm believer that anyone we talk to is someone we have something in common with. While it may be hard to find, there is something that bridges the gap between people's lives and how we are connected. "Every time I listen to a person and they leave lighter. Leave with a little more hope, even hope in themselves. Every time I sit with someone and they are devastated and then less devastated, that's success. If we are going to have a civil, human community, we have to have space for the ones who think like us. The ones who don't think like us, and the ones who really don't think like us." Jenkinson shares that this cross-Canada journey isn't about solving people's problems. Rather, he wants to create a safe place for people to share what's on their hearts that day. "When I listen to you, I like you. And when I like you, I cannot harm you. When you become my neighbour, then I love you. I hope that this is an example that listening creates neighbours. The most outrageous teaching I've ever heard is, Love your enemies. Now that is a challenge. I hope if I listen long enough, that's what I'll be doing." People interested in following Jenkinson's journey can do so on his Facebook page.