Speak the Word of Courage

To the one who is sick, perhaps forced to return from work in a mission land, noth­ing comes much easier than thoughts of dis­couragement and gloom. Especially is this true in the case of one whose illness is long and severe. At such times the days drag by. The nights bring their interminable hours. The weakened body complains to the harried mind. Then it is that one needs thoughts of peace and not of despair. The future seems dark, the outlook unpromising. The failures of past days rise in mockery. The impression deepens that affliction has come as a punish­ment, that one is a sinner above all the Gali­leans, that he has been removed from active service lest the cause of God suffer more dam­age than his unfaithfulness or carelessness or stupid folly has already brought upon it. True, one may not be able to recall many serious offenses, and one clings to the promises of sal­vation and eternal life in spite of the black clouds that roll overhead, but nevertheless the evidence of failure often seems overwhelming.

At such a time the cheerful word of encour­agement from a fellow worker does wonders. The vital warmth of Christian affection brings new life to the spirit. In the case of a worker who has been obliged to give up his work and lie for months in bed, apparently quite useless to the cause, his only present official connection with the movement being that which provides him some financial support from a hard-pressed treasury, his contacts limited to the hearing and reading of what others do, his memory filled with what he was privileged to do in the past and had hoped to do in coming days, his pros­pects blighted for the present and uncertain for the future—in such a case a message of encouragement and appreciation from some experienced leader is a treasure beyond price.

I do not refer to some committee action offi­cially recording regret that a change in per­sonnel has become necessary. This is good, but, as all are aware, this has come to be a courtesy extended in such a variety of circum­stances as to be almost a formality and little more. What I mean is a personal letter from someone who believes in you for your own sake, who assures you of his loving concern, who values the work you have done in former days, and who assures you that all is not lost, but that there are brighter days ahead under the blessing of God. One who is privileged to receive such a message has learned something of the text, "Make us glad according to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us.^- Ps. 90:15.

I do not speak from hearsay or from theory. Neither do I speak as one whose experience has been at all unique or in any way deserving of special mention. Far from it. On the con­trary I presume merely to say a word for the scores, if not hundreds, of workers in this de­nomination who, after years of devoted and valuable service, have fallen at the post of duty by the hand of disease, and have had to endure years of inactivity, privation, and hu­miliation. To such there can be no earthly comfort sweeter or more cheering than a mes­sage such as the following, which was sent by a general worker to one who had been over­taken by serious physical misfortune:

"We have learned with most sincere regret here that your illness compels your return to the home­land. You were doing such excellent work in I think I have never seen a man stand up better to real hard work, and under difficulties that few under­stand and appreciate, than you did there in that field. You certainly had your perplexities, but you were wise and kind and firm and balanced and godly. That means so much to the cause of the Lord, We need men of your kind in many places. You have every reason to look back upon your stay in ______________  with  deep gratitude to God and with real satisfaction in your own heart.

"After a time of quiet and rest, you will find your health returning. I have known many men through the years whose hearts were bad, but they are living yet. Little by little they recovered. The human body by the grace of God has a wonderful faculty of coming back again, especially for men and women of your years. You must not question too much in your own heart why the Lord has permitted this. There are so many whys and wherefores in life that we can never answer. God does not clear them up, does not intend to, until we can see things in the perspective of eternity. I feel sure that when you return, you will grow strong again, and when you are well, there will be something for you to do. You should not give these things any worry. A man of your ability and consecration is needed in this work."

The one who received this heartening mes­sage was quite overwhelmed by its wonderful kindness. He was quite unable to accept all those generous words as actually applying to himself. But no one who has not been through such an experience can possibly know the cour­age the letter brought, how it lightened the burden, and gave inspiration to persevere in the effort toward recovery.

Religious workers, preachers, conference executives, are alike frail human beings, af­flicted often by weakness and disease, tortured by the enemy who is ever seeking to smite them down. Speak the word of appreciation and courage. It may do much toward saving a soul from death, and prolonging his usefulness.