Dear All of Us,
Bob Dylan knew it then.
We know it now.
"The Times They Are a-Changn'."
They sure as heck are,
and not at all for the better:
concern, chaos, conflict -
such risk.
Who knows how things
will work out,
or not,
with democracies diminished,
politics polarized to peril,
pandemic (or is it pandemics?),
fiscal uncertainties inflating,
spiritually shallow religion,
culture wars,
terrorism over there
and right here,
nuclear and climate threats,
to name some of too many.
We've had the pins
of presumptive invincibility
knocked out from under us.
There are Flat Stanleys and
Flat Stellas all over
the floor of upset.
Could ever Red and Blue
blend to royal purple?
Are we at all capable of
getting in the same boat and
rowing in one direction?
So far, not so good.
People are freight fraught.
What the heaven can we
do about it - literally, really?
Or are we fated to
some sort of hell on earth
and powerless in its
incendiary blasts?
We have very little control
over much many of the
troubles pressing on us.
There are major movers
controlling them,
but we are not they.
Prayer puzzling all this
over the weekend
it occurred to me
that a good part
of our spiritual lives
out here on the street
of right now
is a call to do something
about "The Troubles,"
to get close and personal,
and sensitively so,
to show and share
ENCOURAGEMENT
the shoring up
of sagging spirits,
a reset on hope,
a strengthening
for the stress.
That we can be and do.
It makes a
different world
of just now for others.
En-courage-ment,
etymologically and actually,
means to put heart into another,
(L) cor = heart
to give them
courage care
under siege.
That happens as
we share with another
The Love Who Is God
in personal and practical ways.
It has as many manners
and takes as many forms as
there are people hurting
and those encouraging them.
It's finding appropriate ways
to share care and support,
to companion in pain and peril.
It can mean words.
It can mean silence.
It can be as simple as a smile.
It can be as extensive as
forestalling an eviction.
Whatever the expression,
it's enfleshing, personalizing
God's Bright Love
for those darkened in difficulty.
"But encourage one another
day after day, as long as
it is still called "Today"...
Hebrews 3:13
NASB
The New Testament has
one hundred references to
encouragement.
How be such and do such?
Being a "Do Gooder"
doesn't do it.
It's a poor parody
of encouragement.
Too full of self show.
It just aggravates aggravation.
We don't overwhelm.
We come close carefully
and respectfully.
Encouragement glows out
from deep in us.
It's God's Bright in us
warming, brightening.
It's attitude, presence, response
appropriate to the need
of others.
Spirit Sensitivity
is so essential.
It's not only what we do,
it's mostly how how we do.
We sense the sense of the other.
We sense what we might
be and do in response.
Rather than drooping off
clothing for a poor family,
we do much better
stopping in for a visit
and at the end
of the visit mentioning
"There's some clothing
in the car that our kids
have outgrown and
we'd be so grateful
if you'd help us out
by passing it on
to your little ones."
Soul Sensing
Being and Do
Encouragement.
We can't fix every problem,
but we can show awareness,
respect and care.
We can be and do
Encouraging
in all sorts of
settings
and
responses:
- Thank the weary check out clerk,
offering a wish for a good day
- generously tip service persons:
the plumber, the wait staff,
the packet deliverer
- on a scorching hot/humid day
give the mail deliverer five dollars
to get a cool drink and express
appreciation for the effort required
- text a "Hello" and good wishes to
those adjusting to college
- when someone new on the job
makes ten stupid mistakes
in a row, affirm all the energy
they are putting into
learning the ropes
- take time to kibitz with
neighbors at the bus stop
- listen respectfully as a friend
tells their tale of woe
- take a lonely senior adult
for a ride in the country
- email your child's teacher
expressing appreciation
for all it is taking to
reorient children to school
after a year and a half
on the loose (and couch)
- without being "preachy,"
celebrate goodness
in conversations -
a sprightly Fall day,
a "stay awake, spunky sermon",
how well the new neighbors are
taking care of their yard,
the wonderful, new crossing guard
- have the family of an unemployed
parent over for dinner and a movie
- if you can, anonymously cover
the rent for a family
about to be evicted
- don't get all over the painter
who shows up for one of
every five promised dates
- hear and accept the fear
so many have about so much
In our own way and world
we do what we can.
"If I cannot do great things,
I can do small things
in a great way."
MLK
"Let's see how inventive
we can be in encouraging love
and helping out..."
Hebrews 10:25
The Message
"Instruction does much,
but encouragement
does everything."
Goethe
By encouragement we
not only help each other
survive the storm,
but together we learn
how to dance in the rain.
John Frank
******
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"Hi 5"
to this week's visitors
from
Greece
******
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"Try to be a rainbow
in someone's cloud."
Maya Angelou
******
See you next week.
Looking forward to it!
******
