Encouragement x 6 = HOPE

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. For as Christ's sufferings overflow to us, so through Christ does our encouragement also overflow." (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

Simply from a writer's perspective, this is one Scripture passage that makes me grin. Why? Because I imagine my 7th-grade English teacher, Sr. Charles Borromeo, scolding the great St. Paul for using such repetitive language in a long, run-on sentence. The reproof includes, "Can't you think of another word besides encouragement? Get a thesaurus!"

However, from a thirsty soul's perspective, I do not grin. Rather, I heave a huge sigh of relief as I drink in Paul's words and say "Thank you!" Why? Because to a thirsty soul, each of his six uses of the word encouragement (or its variation) is a welcome sip of water!

Read the passage again. Read it aloud to yourself or to a loved one. It is a mouthful. But it is also a heartful!

We all run dry occasionally, mouths parched from too long a stretch of dusty road. We are also surrounded day in and day out by others tired by the race, out of breath from the climb, or depleted by too many tears shed. For all of us, one sip of water is not enough. There is no such thing as too much encouragement!

And when that encouragement comes from God Himself--God of all encouragement, in our every affliction--then our soul opens wide in welcome relief to drink it in.

Affliction is not too strong a word to express the trials of life. We can be afflicted by something as crushing as a terminal illness or as wearisome as a family argument. We are never alone in our afflictions. Those around us are also beset: a niece and her husband grieving a miscarriage; a friend floundering after divorce; a pastor in need of retreat; a neighbor caring for a spouse who suffers with cancer; a brother and his wife adjusting to their teenage son's decision to join the Army; an aging uncle eager for company; a woman lighting a candle at church for a beloved sister who died unexpectedly the week before.

So many trials and worries. So much silent suffering. Discouragement is a natural response. How do we replace it with encouragement, even when we ourselves are in need? My sisters and brothers in faith, we turn to Christ. Again and again. And if we are too weary to even make the effort to turn, we find that He is already turned to us--always. Always. Even from the Cross. Especially from the Cross. Triumphant in His suffering, triumphant in our lives. So through Christ does our encouragement also overflow.

It overflows at the bedside of a dying 89-year-old woman at the hospice center, whispering that she is ready to go to her Father and praising Him with raspy breaths for the beauty of life. She thanks me for helping her take a few sips of water through a straw. With her face close to mine and with labored breath she tells me I have beautiful eyes. I am taken aback and humbled. In her own trial of dying, she encourages me in my living.

This past Thursday evening, weary from a day of too many tasks and concerns, I rousted myself from my comfortable recliner to attend Mass at my parish. The gray drizzle matched my mood. Crossing the wet parking lot with head and heart both down, I passed the flowerbed near the church entrance. Lo and behold--I was amazed to see white lilies in full bloom! The sight was so unexpected. They seemed so out of season as summer wanes and a few trees near my home are already aflame with crimson color. I stopped in my tracks and bent over one lily to gently touch the silky white bloom and breathe in its scent, my nose tickled by the golden pollen.

Ah, the sweet fragrance of hope, almost forgotten in my discouragement of the past week. The sweet reminder: He is risen. He is risen indeed. Easter in August! Now that's ENCOURAGEMENT!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! May six times be encouragement enough for you, my sisters and brothers in faith.