Encouragement: the art of listening and nurturing
By Sister Irene Hartman, OP
Words of counsel, comfort, Encouragement? Isn’t everyone capable of uttering such words and thus bringing new hope into the lives of others? A Christian with the charism of Encouragement witnesses to God’s love by listening to the pain of another, nurturing them by being available, often giving words that comfort and heal the suffering spirit. God’s love is channeled through the one having this gift as the healing words are spoken; the counseling moments become moments of deep prayer. Spiritual growth may come both to the hurting person and to the one offering the consoling words.
In today’s tragic world situations, there are many occasions for the manifestation of this charism. Has the friend experienced the death of a family member in Iraq? Has a divorce threatened to split a family? Has there been a suicide, a recent death, the loss of a relationship, financial worries, failures in academic endeavors, loss of hope? There is a long list of times and places where the one with the charism of Encouragement can reach out a hand, a listening ear, a gift of a hot meal, a promise of prayer, a kindly word to make life more meaningful for another. One can offer time and compassion even though one has not been trained specifically as a counselor. Something as simple as a casserole prepared with love or the offer to take someone to a doctor’s appointment, can make a difference in the life of another, can show that the love of God is alive and well in the community.
Disturbed and challenged by the anti-Christian tenets of the Nazi regime, a brother and sister, college students, Hans age 24 and Sophie Scholl age 21, were determined to make changes for their fellow students, many of whom were disturbed with the so-called "truths" of Hitler and his followers. Not having great financial resources, how could they make a difference? How could they offer counsel and hope in this situation? Who would follow them? Who would believe? Wasn’t this a dangerous time to be opposing Hitler? Could it cost them their lives?
Unperturbed and armed with the words of the Man who called Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life, they formed a group of college students called the White Rose. Their aim was to distribute leaflets indicting the regime and encouraging readers to work for the defeat of Nazism. They decided theirs would be a spiritual war against the depravity of the system, and with the gift of Encouragement they offered hope to the young. The group armed themselves with courage, truth, and an illegal duplicator. Some of their signs read: "We must attack evil where it is strongest" and "Down with Hitler."
Hans and Sophie were caught Feb. 18, 1943, while distributing leaflets. They wanted to take all the blame for the White Rose activities, but the Gestapo rounded up the whole group. Hans and Sophie were convicted of treason and sentenced to death. Their bravery was based on a deep faith that the executioner’s block was the entranceway to freedom and eternal life. The two were beheaded Feb. 22, 1943.