Marathon

This is going to be a long run, so…

“Encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” —1 Thessalonians 5:11

On Monday, April 15, 2013, thousands upon thousands of people came together in the city of Boston for the 117^th running of the Boston Marathon as runners and spectators from around the city, state, region, country, and even the world gathered to celebrate an event that has roots that go all the way back to 490 B.C.E. That’s almost 500 years before Paul wrote to the Thessalonians to continue to “… encourage one another and build up each other…” As tragically as the day unfolded, powerful stories also began to emerge detailing remarkable images of kindness, bravery and acts of encouragement. There were countless examples of people stepping in to help victims of the blasts that have continued to inspire the city, the state, the region, the country and even the world. That’s the way it should be. For sure. But don’t we wish, hope and pray that we’d never again need to think about this kind of thing, let alone try to process it with our kiddos? Unfortunately, we have to, and to some degree or another, we must.

It wasn’t difficult to be riveted by the accounts of heroism in the very moments after the blasts. Emergency personnel, race participants and volunteers along with thousands of bystanders who were not directly involved, suddenly all became involved on deeper levels and in ways more critical than they could ever have imagined.

Joe Andruzzi was one of those people. It didn’t take long to learn about Joe, and how he, in what seems to be a counterintuitive response, ran straight toward the explosion sites, instead of away from them. Joe was one of many who waded deeply into the carnage to help in any way he could.

Here is part of a new story about from a news story on msnbc.com:

“Joe Andruzzi could be called a hero even before Monday. The former New England Patriots lineman helps children with brain cancer and their families pay for their treatments through his foundation. The Joe Andruzzi Foundation had a team of runners in the Boston Marathon to raise money to help more patients.

Andruzzi, who was near the finish line when the bombs exploded, rushed to help, along with many others. When football fans recognized him in photos, carrying a wounded woman to a triage tent, Andruzzi was quick to downplay his role.

“While I appreciate the interest in hearing our perspective on today’s horrific events, the spotlight should remain firmly on the countless individuals—first responders, medics, EMTs, runners who crossed the finish line and kept on running straight to give blood, and the countless civilians who did whatever they could to save lives,” he said in a statement Monday. “They were the true heroes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected by this senseless tragedy.”

Andruzzi knows heroes. His brothers were New York firefighters involved in the September 11, 2001, World Trade Center attack.

This is a powerful layer to a powerful story. And again, as much as we’d wish and hope and pray that we’d never arrive at another day like this, we will, most likely, be at this intersection again. So the questions remain, how do we continue to speak life into death and hope into fear? How can we help our kiddos think through the unthinkable?

The ancient word is “encouragement.”

Scripture is filled with words, phrases and examples of encouragement. Given what we know about the story of God throughout the ages, it’s no wonder. Fear and terror along with anxiety, persecution, misunderstanding, intolerance, bigotry and so much more has created a climate of uncertainty from the very beginning. But still, words of encouragement and acts of kindness continue to be the enduring stories that come out of stories of heartbreak and loss. The passage from 1 Thessalonians comes out of a context of fear, persecution, terror and even violence. The early followers of Jesus were being put down for their faith and trust in Jesus, and many had or would pay with their lives. The word ‘encourage’ comes from a couple of other words: first, the prefix: ‘en’ means ‘in,’ and the root of the word ‘courage’ comes from the word ‘heart,’ or ‘heartening.’

So to encourage someone literally means to pour more heart into that person.

Here’s how I think we can help our kids with this. Gather your family and share ideas about what it means to encourage. Ask your family members what it means to encourage someone. How do they feel when someone encourages them? What kinds of things do they do to encourage other people? Have they ever been to a sporting event or concert where people were cheering? How do they think it made the people on the field or on the stage feel to hear all that clapping? Who are their biggest fans (at home, school, church, soccer, etc.)? You might even ask one another to draw a picture of what encouragement looks like.

Then share ideas about a time when God encouraged you through someone who was there for you at just the right time to share a word of encouragement when you needed it most. As you pray together as a family you can thank God for these people in your life.

You may also want to use the list of encouraging bible passages below to help each other think about how God encourages us through others.

• Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
• Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
• Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
• 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
• 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,  as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
• Deuteronomy 31:8 It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
• Psalm 9:9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
• Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.
• Psalm 55:22 Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
• Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Also, you may need some resources for helping young people come to grips with disasters like the one that took place in Boston. The following is a resource that comes from Dr. Lawrence Hipshman, who serves on the Disaster Response Committee for Northwest Permanente in the state of Oregon and treats those with acute emotional trauma in disaster situations.

He offered these tips for talking with kids about the violence in Boston.

1. Find out what they know. What have they heard? Chances are, children — even young kids — will have heard something about the shootings, or have seen something on television.

2. Keep in mind your child’s age and development in deciding how to answer questions. Many children below the ages of 7 or 8 don’t really get the idea of death, he said. Their questions about “What happened” or “Who did it” may be more about “Am I safe?” or “Will he hurt me?” Respond more on satisfying their emotional question rather than factual question. Let your child know that you understand that they’re feeling insecure, and reassure them that they are safe, that you are still there and that this thing that happened does not change anything about your relationship with each other. “In the beginning it’s really about being safe and being cared for,” he said.

3. For older children or those who are developmentally ready, answer their questions but don’t provide unnecessary detail. Help build that sense of safety by putting it in context of how rare it is — this kind of event didn’t happen when you were a child, for instance.

4. Be open to talking. “If they feel like you’re trying to hide something that will really have a negative effect on the child,” he said.

5. A little emotion on your part is ok. But don’t go overboard. “You don’t want to overwhelm the child with your emotion. On the other hand, in context with child development, it’s ok for the child to know that this is upsetting and being upset and feeling badly is normal. You can model for the child that you can feel upset without everything falling apart.”

6. As much as possible, keep routines the same. Keep life as much as possible normal. Check in from time to time to see how your child is feeling about it. Ask them what they have been thinking about. Encourage them to express themselves in ways that match their age and interests, such as having younger children draw a picture or giving older children a journal.

7. Monitor them to make sure they are eating and sleeping ok. Help them get the sense that even though the shooting occurred and it was an important event, that they need to keep on with their lives at the same time.

8. Limit the news, and tune out dramatic newscasts, where images, music and even the expressions on newscasters’ faces can add to a child’s distress.

9. Take care of yourself. Go to your support systems, talk with family, friends and church members. Give support to others. Make sure you are getting rest, eating properly and finding time to reflect on the situation, he said. But also make sure you are living your daily routine as well. If you feel that you’re not sleeping, eating or engaging in your regular activities, or that you are feeling increased irritability or anger, go see a counselor.

Finally, in a rather ironic—if not chilling note from the Life Application Bible we read this note on verses 9-11 of chapter 5:

“As you near the end of a long race, your legs ache, your throat burns, and your whole body cries out for you to stop. This is when friends and fans are most valuable. Their encouragement helps you push through the pain to the finish. In the same way, Christians are to encourage one another. A word of encouragement offered at the right moment can be the difference between finishing well and collapsing along the way. Look around you. Be sensitive to others’ needs for encouragement, and offer supportive words or actions.”