Bits for Sunday, May 17, 2009

Tis the week of season finales. I’m exhausted! The obese have shrunk to half their original size, the singers have powered (almost) the last of the tunes, the interns have survived (or have they?) another day of trauma, and tonight…the last house of the season is built. I’m not normally a die-hard viewer of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, but tonight’s show is in Indianapolis, so of course, I have to watch. I’ve already cried twice, and the show is only half over. Perhaps the Kleenex box should just relocate to the living room.

This show reminds me of the verse we’ve been learning during our Sunday morning church services. Hebrews 10:24 says “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” God made us to thrive on the encouragement of others. Have you ever noticed that when someone takes the time to tangibly love you, it energizes you to go out and do the same to someone else?

Extreme Makeover can clearly encourage on a grand level. Who wouldn’t be energized by leaving behind a dilapidated home in exchange for something state of the art…a paid mortgage…a new vehicle…full ride scholarships? Unless something extreme happens in my own life, I wouldn’t be able to provide any such encouragement to anyone.

But encouragement comes in all sizes, and here are some things that have encouraged me in the recent weeks.

· My friend, Judy, took a Saturday afternoon to go running with me, even though she’s a for-real runner and my pathetic attempts (and gasps for oxygen) slowed her down considerably.

· Our student worker, Rachel, often hides sticky notes around my office to make me smile and remind me that the work is worth it.

· Some friends of mine drove over an hour to my house to hook up my computer and internet because anything that technological is beyond my comprehension.

· I had a chance to reconnect with some friends from days gone by, and they welcomed me back as though no time had passed.

· When my lawn mower was in the shop, my parents’ neighbors loaned their own push mower, and Dad brought it to my house and took care of my yard before the city showed up with goats.

· In my Bible are two cards, sent by two different friends who just wanted to send a blessing to my day and affirm me in my ministry.

· My birthday began with a giant breakfast cooked for me (in my own home!) by my friends Tom and Olivia. They got up early, drove over, and allowed me to relax with bedhead while they did all the hard work.

It’s all in the little things. These people gave of their time, their talents, their thoughtfulness to encourage me. To brighten my day. And these people – along with many others who have blessed me – have spurred me on to want to reach out to other people. To send a card or make a meal or share something I have that they might need.

And so the cycle goes…encouragement breeds encouragement. So consider it this week. What can you do to spur another on toward love and good deeds?