Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11
When Alex Trebek passed away recently, all of America shed a tear. The Canadian Jeopardy host has long been beloved by all of our country, as he came into living rooms around supper time…and made us all just a little more aware of how LITTLE we really know! It’s like he knew EVERY thing! He spoke all the languages…he knew the answer was just “oooh…SO close.” But he always seemed to encourage EVERY one. I’ve always loved Trebek and Jeopardy-my brother has been working for the show this last year and said it’s always a really positive place when Alex was around. My wife got me his most recent book for Christmas-it’s called The Answer Is… Like most of us, when he passed, it felt like we lost a friend.
But recently I stumbled on a website that made me smile and remember Alex fondly. The website is called “The Trebek Affirmation Soundboard” and you can find it at www.trebek-affirmations.com. You should pause reading this…and go there now. You won’t regret it.
If you DIDN’T go check it out, let me explain it: the website is just ONE PAGE and it’s set up to look like a Jeopardy board. There are 6 categories and 5 prize values in each category. And the purpose of the page is this: To hear Alex Trebek give you ENCOURAGEMENT! You can click on any value and hear in Mr Trebek’s voice words that will affirm you and not feel so dumb! In the category “Wrong is Right”, for $1200 (don’t worry…it doesn’t cost you anything!) Alex tells you “Not a Bad Guess!” In “You’re Killing It” for $2000, he responds with, “You got it!! YES! And that was a tough one!” I just burned about 20 minutes clicking on EVERY tab!!
Obviously, this homage to the Jeopardy Host was made to make you smile…but it caused me to ponder even more. What if you and I were THAT encouraging EVERY DAY? What if we said encouraging words EVERY day to our spouses? To our children? To our co-workers? Not just once in a while at the Christmas party or when you’re feeling guilty…what if our BASE RESPONSE was to use words of CONFIDENCE and INVIGORATION?
One of the joys of having social media is to see pictures of kids and friends that I don’t see too often. One of the DOWN sides of Social media is we get to see the anger, frustration and vitriol of people’s opinions. And lately…I’ve seen A LOT of that! What if we Christ-followers posted POSITIVE instead of just complaints? What if we spoke words of SUPPORT for our Country or our State…instead of all that we see that is wrong? What if we CHEERED for others, and supported their goals??
Yes that seems very “elementary” and “childish”…but I’m serious! We have an opportunity to be the VOICE OF HOPE in our community, on Social Media, and even in our town. We have an OBLIGATION from the Apostle Paul to “encourage one another and build each other up.” MANY of my friends do this! I see positive posts and hear encouraging words often…let’s see it and hear it EVEN MORE!
May the Body of Christ be the VOICE OF INSPIRATION in this divided time! May we speak words of empowerment and enlivening with every passing day! And my Christ be Glorified in our words, our actions…and in our POSTS! “Let us encourage one another…and BUILD EACH OTHER UP!”
SHALOM & NOELLE (Peace & Joy)…Don
