Encouragement

April 28th, 2009

It’s the day of the London Marathon.  

My abiding memory of being amongst the crowds 9 years ago was the overwhelming and enthusiastic encouragement that the vast crowd gave to all the wonderful multi-decorated participants.  This went on unabated for hour after hour as the thousands of runners, walkers or hobblers streamed by.  We moved location a couple of times, as we followed the runners along the course, and the encouragement continued, even grew. 

Having your name called out gave visible added impetus. Aching limbs found new energy as words of encouragement were injected.  Many of those who had ground to a halt, bowed over the side railings with exhaustion, rallied as their name or at least their number was shouted out in unison by the crowd.  Bottles of water were held out all along the barriers by ordinary people urging on complete strangers.  Names were held high on placards, plasters were offered, comical banter filled the air. ‘It’s only 16 miles to go!  It’s only 6 miles to go!  This is Westminster; the finishing line is in sight!’  Such were the shouts.  We were all in this together; we wanted to see everyone succeed.  We were all on the same team! 

Running the Christian life is like running a marathon. We all need encouragement.  It is so easy to see the faults in others.  It is so easy to criticise, to cast blame, to highlight shortcomings.  So many of us are only too aware of our weaknesses and failings, we don’t need to be reminded of them, but we all need others to shout out our names, to verbalise support and urge us on.  We are called to bear one another’s burdens, to allow love to cover a whole multitude of sins.  Let us encourage each other.  Don’t take it for granted that others know your love and support.  Take some conscious steps to convey encouragement in some way; speak, write, phone, Email, Facebook, Twitter, send a card or a gift.  And not just a one-off!  Where are the Barneys?  Why not be known as an encourager like Barnabas in Acts 4. Let encouragement become an increasing way of life amongst us.  

David Thatcher  

Filed under: Thought of the Week