I grew up in a home where feedback was generally non-existent. I suppose I’m not alone. My father used to say, “Self praise stinks!” If you were ever going to get a clear idea of what he thought of you or your accomplishments, it would come from a third party who would say, “You know, your dad was really impressed by this or that!” I remember, later in life, when he’d give me some positive feedback on a sibling or a grandchild, and I’d say, “Well, have you told them?” Thankfully in the last decade of his life he began to do that. What a joy and positive motivation it engendered in both the giver and receiver.
A few weeks ago we received some unprecedented feedback from a Hebron neighbor I’ve never met. She wrote, “In this difficult time, I wanted to write to tell you how much your church means to me. I’ve never attended, and I’m not in the same denomination, but almost every day your church gives me encouragement. Most nights before I go to bed I look out my window, down in the valley, and I see your steeple all lighted and proclaiming hope in every struggle.” And in that sweet note, she enclosed a $50 donation.
The word encouragement comes from two French words “en” and “coragier” meaning “to infuse with strength” or “to hearten”. One linguist observed, “When you encourage the tomato plants in your garden, you water them to promote their growth and health.” And the same is true for Christians.
Think of Jesus showing up on the beach after the resurrection. We’ve been studying it together for the last month. One of the greatest takeaways from this encounter is the encouragement Jesus gives to Peter after his colossal failure. Jesus didn’t have to come to that beach. He didn’t have to say a word to Peter. His salvific work in Peter and the others had been accomplished. The Holy Spirit had been breathed into them. The Ascension was coming. The Day of Pentecost was coming when the power of the Holy Spirit would fall upon them, equipping them to build the church. Everything Peter apparently needs is his already. So why does Jesus show up? There’s only one reason - to encourage. He’s there to promote the health and growth of not just Peter, but yours. The Gospel is all about encouragement in the midst of struggle and failure.
Nine years ago, Brennan Manning, one of my mentors, wrote his memoir. At the beginning of the book he sets out his purpose. He writes:
“This book is by the one who thought he’d be farther along by now, but he’s not. It is by the inmate who promised the parole board he’d be good, but he wasn’t. It is by the dim-eyed who showed the path to others but kept losing his way. It is by the wet-brained who believed if a little wine is good for the stomach, then a lot is great. It is by the liar, tramp, and thief; otherwise known as the priest, speaker, and author. It is by the disciple whose cheese slid off his cracker so many times he said, “to hell with cheese ‘n crackers”. It is by the young at heart but old of bone who is led these days in a way he’d rather not go. But, this book is also for the gentle ones who’ve lived among wolves. It is for those who’ve broken free of collar to romp in fields of love and marriage and divorce. It is for those who mourn, who’ve been mourning most of their lives, yet they hang on to ‘shall be comforted’. It is for those who’ve dreamed of entertaining angels, but found instead a few friends of great price. It is for the younger and elder prodigals who’ve come to their senses again, and again, and again, and again. It is for those who strain at pious piffle, because they’ve been swallowed by mercy itself. This book is for myself and those who have been around the block enough times that we dare whisper the ragamuffin’s rumor -
ALL IS GRACE.”
And there is no greater encouragement than that!
As poet, Leonard Cohen, says so well:
“Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.”
