The Cool Breeze of Friendship

Leadership

We got back to the car after a few hours of walking around the streets of Nashville, and the temperature was three digits! It was hot, and the humidity level was such that it felt like we were walking in a sauna. All around town, the city closed down streets to allow people to walk and ride for miles without worrying about getting run over. It was a great opportunity to take a Sunday afternoon stroll, as not only were there no cars, but there were also no snakes on the streets, so it was Susan-approved.

At each blocked-off street, there was a barrier set up as well as a security officer. These guys were dressed in their dark uniforms, weighed down with all of their equipment, and had a five-hour shift standing in the punishing sun. As we walked by and chatted with them, they joked about how hot it was, would stand in the street making sure no drivers went around the barriers, smiled, laughed, and made everyone feel safe and joyful. It was infectious.

"We must not just please ourselves. We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord." (Romans 15:1-2)

Some days it just feels hard. We are asked to do things that are unpleasant. We are tired, don't feel like it, and long for comfort, not work. That is when we need others to lift us up, offer encouragement, and remind us we aren't in it alone. It's also a good trigger to remember the law of reciprocation. The measure you get will be directly proportional to the measure you give.

Build someone up and lift yourself in the process.

The officers along this walk were not in the comfortable clothes we were in; they could not stop and go inside anytime they wanted to, and they weren't getting the benefit of a little exercise. Yet, they were the encouragers for everyone walking and riding around.

Who do you know that could use a little encouragement today? Who needs a little building up? Who is in the heat of life and could use a little shade or the cool breeze of friendship? No matter how hard you think you have it, there's always enough of you to share with someone else. Encouraging someone is a sure way to improve two people's day.