Seriously, I started to post Barnabas’ picture. Barnabas isn’t my dog. He is the General’s dog. Consequently, I thought she should be the one to post his picture if she wanted to honor him. Barnabas doesn’t read Facebook, so regardless – picture or no picture – it wasn’t going to impact the dog.
I have a love/hate relationship with the Barnabas. He is cute. He is personable. He is playful – He is even mostly well behaved. The one thing he is not is obedient. He is an escape artist. If there is a gap in the gate, he is gone. I can and have chased after that dog with a jar of treats under my arm yelling ‘Come back - treat, treat, treat – come back” – until I am hoarse. Barnabas isn’t coming back until he is ready to come back. Consequently, I’ve learned my lesson. If Barnabas goes out the gate, “Good for him”. I’m not chasing after him. I’ll let him back if and when he returns. So far, he’s always returned. I’d be sad if he didn’t, but I’m not going to chase him. Been there – done that. It doesn’t work.
When Barnabas was younger, I feared he’d become breakfast for a coyote if he got out in the pasture. Trust me, he is no respecter of property lines. When Barnabas is on the run, “catch me if you can” is clearly his modus operandi. Now that Barnabas is older, “catch me if you can” is still his modus operandi, but I’ve stopped playing the game. For one thing, I can’t catch him. It took me years to figure that out, but I no longer try. For another, he’s made it this long without being breakfast for a coyote, so I figure his chances are above average that he’ll make it back home when he is ready.
Treva named the dog Barnabas. I suggested Trouble would be a better name, but she opted for Barnabas. Actually, in doing so, she was paying me a left-handed compliment. Treva and I had both read the Mitford series by Jan Karon. The main character in the series of books is a guy named Father Tim. I can’t remember if he was an Episcopal or Lutheran minister, but his ministry was marked by kindness and divine appointments. He was the kind of guy most people loved. He spread God’s love in every set of circumstances and in every situation in which he found himself. He even loved his dog. His dog’s name was Barnabas.
Okay, so here’s the left-handed compliment. Treva said that Father Tim reminded her of me. Honestly, the only higher compliment would have been for her to say I reminded her of Jesus. Truthfully, Father Tim was the picture perfect pastor if such exists. Consequently, she named her dog Barnabas because Father Tim had a dog named Barnabas.
Her doing so was a source of encouragement. If she liked me as well as folks in Mitford liked Father Tim, Wow- what a nice compliment. There is reference to a guy in the New Testament. His name is Barnabas and he must have been an expert when it comes to encouraging others because the nickname he was given by the disciples literally means, Son of Encouragement.
Throughout the book of Acts, Barnabas kept showing up to offer encouragement and support. To begin with, he was a traveling companion of Paul. His name was really Joseph. He reportedly was a Levite from Cyprus. Yet because of his innate ability to demonstrate kindness and encouragement, the disciples endearingly referred to him as Barnabas.
Have you ever stopped to consider what a different world ours would be if there were more people like Barnabas? Almost everywhere I turn, I find people who are in the midst of difficulty and people who are having a hard time. An encouraging word might mean the difference between hope and despair.
It is really difficult to be objective when the props have been knocked out from under you. Worse yet, sometimes the props can be knocked from under you by one’s own doing. Aren’t there times in all of our lives that we can relate to that scenario? I’m generally pretty upbeat and positive, but I have moments when I allow myself to think the worst. Fortunately, those bouts of momentary melancholy are fleeting.
I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by folks who have the wherewithal to tell me to lighten up. An encouraging word in face of “worst possible case scenario” is always a welcomed change.
Barnabas was also a generous man. In the book of Acts, he reportedly sold his home and used the resources to distribute to folks in he midst of great difficulty. Sometimes the offer of financial assistance for a person in the midst of financial crisis can make a world of difference in one’s perspective.
Barnabas also had the ability to see beyond a person’s past and envision them for their potential. He believed in giving others a second chance. All those things endeared him to others because he was adept at meeting people at the point of need.
Encouragement is a good gift. It has the potential to cheer the weary, calm the heavy hearted, and provide hope to the downcast. It is free for us to share. When we opt to do so, it enhances someone else’s world as well as our own.
All My Best!
Don