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. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 New American Bible translation)

The first word that comes to mind when I read this is WITNESS.  This verse is calling us to take a closer look at our lives – past and present – in order to notice the ways in which God has blessed us.  How has God encouraged us on our journey? We are called to share our lives with others, to witness to others the ways in which God has blessed us.  We are called to witness  especially to those in most need of encouragement.

As believers we understand that we are the branches and Jesus is the vine.  We are all “parts” of the one body as we’ve read in 1 Corinthians 12.  In essence, the whole cannot function without each part.  What this tells us is that we were meant to function as a community, we were meant to live in community.  Not only do we need Christ, but we need each other as well.  Of course, we all have different strengths and talents and are encouraged to embrace, nurture and share them.  Yet, so much of our time here on earth is spent wishing we were like someone else, wishing we lived somewhere else, simply wishing and not living.  If we nurtured the talents and strengths we possessed and then pooled them together in community, our world would be a much better place.  We tend to forget that all we are and have is through God’s grace and not our own accord.

Besides sharing our gifts, talents and good fortune, I feel this Scripture verse is telling us to share our “horror” stories too.  It is telling us to share our shortcomings and shame, because when we do, we will see that we are not alone and we don’t have to suffer or fear alone.  It is in the knowing we are not alone that we are encouraged.  God gets us through – share with others how He does that.  Help them see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Your story matters to the community, your story needs to be woven into the fabric of creation, that’s why it exists.  Sharing a story works to benefit the storyteller and the listener.  It relieves the pressure or shame that comes with keeping a “secret” and it helps us realize that we are all connected in one way or another and it is this connection that heals.

I think of the many different people who have shared their stories – Oprah, Cynthia Bond, Amy Purdy, and many other celebrities and I realize that the common thread in the decision to tell their stories was RELIEF.  They wanted to relieve themselves of the poison they held on to.  The common result of sharing their stories:  a sense of freedom.  Their gift to others:  a teaching moment.  I also think of the many people I know and even some celebrities, Michael Jackson for example, who do not share their stories of tragedy or what they perceive to be shame and the common thread I sense is a loss of freedom, a closed, tortured sense of self, a failure to perceive a teachable moment.  In a sense, a lost soul – one that tries and tries to find their true identity but fails and continues to be defined by the false sense of self – a self-inflicted, sad existence.  An existence which fails to see the true beauty and benefit of living in community.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us that God encourages us through 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.  What does that mean for you?  Don’t hold back what God is calling you to share, good or bad.  Don’t just sit back and be a receiver.  Open yourself up, become vulnerable, become a giver, a healer!  Remember you are not alone.  God bless you!