To Encourage and Be Encouraged

        

                                                                       

With the tragic shootings last Friday in Connecticut, where so many lives were cut mercilessly short, I wondered whether to proceed with my originally intended blog. I decided since my focus would not change either way, to begin with my plan. 

A number of years ago while studying at Concordia University; our program had this one professor who seemed to model a rare and treasured gift. Treasured in that aside from his ability to see and seek out the true possibilities in others, he seemed to possess the gift of seeing Christ in others. Regardless of his own views, he understood and respectfully treated each person he encountered as a child of God. He was ‘present’ to who we were and to whom we were becoming. The manner in which he regarded his students and colleagues modeled the spirit of encouragement. His presence in our lives as well as his teachings left a lasting impact in the lives of many students. 

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the verb ‘to encourage” as this: to inspire with courage, with spirit, and/or with hope. To encourage or to be encouraged can translate into many areas. Here’s a few: 

                    To offer a smile, a handshake

                    To welcome a stranger or someone new

                    To offer a pat on the back or message of congratulations.

                    To affirm your faith in someone through word or deed

                    To express gratitude for a person, a deed, a gift, this day, healing or

good health, and so much more

                    To accomplish a task or challenge, or to learn something new

                    To feel or sense God’s presence in your life.

                    To know you are loved and/or cared about by others and by God. 

    

  To encourage or be encouraged means cultivating and offering one another our presence, our compassion, a listening heart, prayers, forgiveness, mercy, respect and understanding. These traits of encouragement show up in different ways through our relationships at home, at work, in school, in public and in private, in our thoughts, our emotions, and our prayers.

Several years ago during my ministry as hospital Chaplain, I was periodically called to lead a weekend Worship Service.  These Services, while offered in the hospital Chapel, were also broadcast and made available in patient and waiting rooms, and in nursing stations. Most services usually included live organ music, yet sometimes I needed to improvise with a prerecorded hymn or song. The focus was always to offer some measure of healing and comfort to people spiritually, emotionally and physically: to offer some measure of encouragement. The challenge was in finding ways to share God’s presence and hope personally while delivering institutionally from one corner of a building.  One of the prerecorded songs I frequently played was ‘You Raise Me Up’ (link is above)  Just as this song speaks to the powerful impact of God’s presence in our daily lives; we, who were created by the same God, are also called to be messengers of hope and encouragement to one another.  

Spiritual and emotional encouragement can be expressed so many ways: in personal communications, through an ongoing relationship with God, an active faith, and a sense of gratitude (even in the midst of challenges).  ‘You Raise Me Up’ speaks not only to one’s connection with God; it also speaks to how we receive one another. Referring back to the professor I wrote of earlier, and to many others who have impacted my life both briefly and long term: I remain grateful for their honest encouragement. and hope in some way I have been able to offer the same to others.

To be encouraging, it’s important to be encouraged.  Each person, every soul needs to find that which encourages them. Relationships, community, music, nature, the arts, offering pastoral care, and my relationship with God are tools which inspire and encourage me.  What inspires you?    

                                            

And, how does ‘encouragement’ show up in the face of tragedies such as last Friday’s shootings in Connecticut, or any sudden or unwanted loss or challenge? I believe it shows up by how we live out our lives, by how we are present for one another, how we share our hopes, and how we live our faith in the midst of our humanness and in God’s Grace. 

Offering variations of encouragement and staying encouraged is an ongoing life process. We learn as we journey on and as we meet different people and find ourselves in varying circumstances.  In this Advent Season of Waiting, and as we celebrate the Birth of Jesus Christ, I encourage you to spend time with the God of Hope and Grace whose Spirit is the source of all encouragement….and then make time to encourage and share this Season with others.     

I've included two songs which speak of encouragement, personally and spiritually. If you can bypass the ads, the words are worth the listening.  Testify to Love and Breath of Heaven

Shalom,

Susan