Current Contemplation: Encouragement

Excellent Twitter thread about Bowie encouraging the career of Arcade Fire and his constant generosity to welcoming bright, new creators into the fold

Encouragement is defined in the dictionary as: 1) The action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope 2) Persuasion to do or to continue something 3) The act of trying to stimulate the development of an activity, state, or belief

Lately, this concept has been at the forefront of my mind.  Predominately because being isolated from everyone I know in New York could be seen as a disheartening situation.  This is especially true because I am slow to introduce myself to new people and situations, so it has been hard to go out and push myself to meet other people.  On top of this, as a reluctant morning person, I rarely (ie never) go out to clubs or bars to socialise with people in my age group.  Therefore, although I have met many interesting people of different ages, most of them are significantly older than me.  Don't get me wrong - I am a huge supporter of having friends of multiple generations, ethnicities, etc. (it was particularly annoying to only meet people and have friends my age when I was in college).  However, to be so quickly taken out of that context again is just as unnerving as being thrust into it.

Biblically, there are numerous references to the need for encouragement.  Specifically, the encouragement of the heart via Christ is seen as a critical part of building and maintaining faith, hope, and love in Him which then leads to comfort in times of suffering/trials while accomplishing great works.  I don't mean for that statement to sound formulaic (I think that the way these elements play out, in reality, is messy and overlap and backtrack every which way).  However, the crux of the idea that encouragement for the heart is needed for comforting our spirits is something I've been meditating on today.

Specifically, I was at a book and coffee shop today where I met a man named Eric.  He had numerous backpacks, books, and notebooks scattered around his table, and I originally believed he was a homeless individual.  However, whether or not he was, he was one of the most friendly and talkative people I've ever met.  I watched him go around and greet the staff and other patrons at the various tables.  At each one he was engaging - asking them about their lives, their hopes, their dreams, while also pointing out helpful references to different books or how to work the tricky bathroom lock.  Clearly, he was a well-known patron of the establishment.  However, not only that but he was genuinely welcoming - encouraging to every one regarding their hopes and dreams.

So before he left I went up and introduced myself to him because I wanted to encourage the encourager.  I believe that people who encourage others rarely get their own spirits raised without their prompting someone to respond in kind (out of common courtesy).  And moreover, I think that these people are precisely the ones who need and deserve encouragement just as much (if not more so) than the rest of us.  Mutual affirmation and validation of the spirit in these troubling times can not be undersold (especially if it's done in Christ).

In return to my overtures, he talked with me about following the little voice inside myself ("The Universe" is what he called it), and also gave me great reference sources for getting a start in the film industry out in New York.  Whether or not he was homeless, I don't know, but he clearly had a rich inner life.

Although I wouldn't call "that little voice" the "Universe", exactly, I do think he was in tune with the idea of The Spirit who Dwells in us.  Indeed, what struck me most of all was how fearless he was to go up and converse with everyone and anyone, and how everyone he spoke to had a smile on their face afterwards.  He was truly showing people that he cared about their opinions and wanted to exchange his own with them.  What I saw in him was real encouragement - the kind that I believe as a Christian we should be doing every day.  (The seeking out others and listening and conversing with them kind).

And on one last note, I received some excellent encouragement today in the form of Twitter as well regarding this blog (connecting back to my opening picture)! Proof that there ARE people in the world interested in God and David Bowie (my little niche corner of the Internetsphere).  This made me so excited that I think tomorrow I will do a long-overdue essay on Bowie.