Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” (I Thessalonians 5:11 NASB)
It is the end of a basketball game. The score is tied. The home team has possession of the ball and there are twenty-two seconds left in the game. The coach calls a timeout and diagrams a play, and as all good communicators, he checks for understanding before breaking huddle. Everyone in the gym is on their feet. The excitement level is great. There is anticipation, anxiety, the anxious clenching of hands in prayer, and even though you can only speculate, I believe the average heart beats per minute was way above the expected rate.
The referee hands the ball to the player designated by the coach to take the ball out-of-bounds. The ball is thrown in bounds The clock is running. The visiting team locks down the star player on the home team. No problem. The home team coach had designed the play for a team member not known for his shooting. Consequently, it is easy for him to get the ball. The clock is still running, almost to the proverbial, driveway practiced countdown, “5, 4, 3, 2, 1” seconds left. The player shoots the ball, releasing it in the best shooting form ever; could have been part of a “How To” video fro shooters. Time seems to freeze, and silence dominates the building. The ball goes through the hoop! Game over! The home team wins! Silence is replaced by victorious shouting on the home team stands, while a momentary moan is heard from the losing visiting team.
The home crowd ignores the rope barriers that were intended to keep them on the floor. They run on to the court. It is swamped with people wearing school colors. They lift up the unheralded player who is not used to such a response. The coach makes his way over to congratulate the player who made the winning shot. The excitement goes on for a while. The fans take it to the parking lot. The players take their exuberance to the locker room. Well, not all the players. The star player is sitting in front of his locker as if his team lost. He offered no encouragement and extended no comments of appreciation. For him, there was no celebration. How sad! He should have been the first to offer encouragement. So what if he had to acts as a decoy and the spotlight was not on him for the moment. The team won! Everyone was better and all, except him, saw the value of encouragement.
Here is your assignment today. Take your eyes off of yourself, even if just for a minute, in spite of you being the best at what you do, and take the time to encourage somebody. The player mentioned above, the one who made the shot, played great the rest of the season. The encouragement he received moved him to continually give his best efforts and to optimize his skills. Note that the person you encourage will do likewise in regard to his or her efforts to do good. Find somebody in your sphere of interaction and give them a word of encouragement today. Do your role, but don’t overlook the efforts or the work of others in the kingdom. You will contribute to their growth, development, and steadfastness in their labors. Tranquility will replace troubled mind. Alienation will be replaced by unity. The optimization of that person’s gift will take place and he/she will be encouraged to do their best. Low self-esteem will be replaced by enhanced self-esteem.
I’m done, but I want to thank all of the readers who from time to time send encouragement to me. Sometimes in the form of really deep prayers. Sometimes in reflections that are longer than the meditation itself. Sometimes the encouragement comes by making me recognize my many blessings. Others, at times, just say, “Thank you and have a great day!” Encouragement works! Don’t forget your assignment. Complete it, and not just today, okay? Sustain the habit! Keep it up! I’ll leave you with a quote today from a famous, well-known literary giant. Be encouraged! Be blessed!
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King