I figured out something this week: spiders are out to get me. But also: encouragement is contagious.
Now that's something that I didn't learn at BSSM, because it came naturally to everyone in an environment like that! They're all about "pulling the gold out of people", a personal tag I've received for myself. Always edifying, uplifting and encouraging someone no matter how much junk is around that block of solidified awesomeness.
SO let's start here: I just moved back to Texas after an exciting adventure with my family in an RV (sounds like a movie, but it didn't involve any gross porter potty incidents *thank you, Jesus*). As warned, transitioning from the Bethel atmosphere (after growing some thick roots) back to where I grew up (where my roots were previously Before-Serum-Steve-Rogers scrawny) would be difficult. The transition meant I'd have to re-adapt to this environment.
The biggest difference would be what I've quickly discovered: Where's all the freebies of encouragement? Outside of BSSM, encouragement is not commonly given just to give. It's earned, unfortunately. Encouragement comes when people ask for it, when people are sad or losing at something. Things like that. At BSSM, encouragement was in the mouth of every friend, of every teacher, inside my binders and secretly hidden in my pockets and in my livingroom and by the beach. It was everywhere.
Laying that down like a fancy yellow brick road to a magical point, I have quickly discovered that God is my greatest source of encouragement ("YOU CAN PAINT THAT WALL, ALLISON. JUST. DO IT. DON'T LET YOUR DREAMS BE DREAMS." ...true story), but also I can be the one thing that breaks the atmosphere with a giant Thor hammer of Encouragement.
Finally, here's the thing that happened that struck me with this revelation! *hoorah!*
I was eating at a Japanese Steakhouse with my good pal, and you know that super awkward moment when you're seated with a whole party of like 6 other people just to fill the whole table for the chef? Man, the air gets real thin after the first few minutes. Like. Make eye contact? Say hello? List three facts about yourself? I had no idea what to do, because to your surprise, I am also an awkward human being.
ANYWAY, by the end of the dinner I loosened up and I was very impressed with our waitress's job. So I told her so, and not just, "You're doing great!" But, "You're doing such a good job and it really impressed me. Keep up the good work because you're doing something right!"
Then, to my surprise, everyone at the table agreed and then proceeded to pile up the encouragements and I could just see the waitress's eyes light up.
This is what I live for, was my thought. I don't need to pray for the sick every day to see God's revival still burning in me from BSSM. Simply, it looks like refusing to conform to silence, and to punch Satan in the pig-snout with telling someone, "You're better than you think you are, and I'm going to sit here and tell you why."
This, my dear friends, is what a Fine Life looks like.
Because encouragement is contagious!
