Rev Norman Hamilton: Modern-day Barnabas shows the way with lockdown letter

His parents were thrilled that he had such a good idea, and they encouraged him all along the way.

His mother was especially delighted, for she is having to home-school him during the current lockdown, and this was a great incentive for him to learn how to improve his handwriting. His name is not ‘Barnabas’ – but he certainly has some of the same gifts as the Barnabas of the New Testament – whose name actually means ‘son of encouragement’.

There are so many uplifting stories of support and encouragement emerging during the current health crisis, perhaps none more prominent and striking than that of Captain (now Sir) Tom Moore, the veteran army officer who raised £32 million for NHS charities in the days before his 100th birthday last month.

Few of us can hope to match what he was able to do, but, and it is an important ‘but’, there is a real ministry to be exercised by us all in support and encouragement these days, both in giving it and receiving it. The isolation, loneliness and frustration that many people feel is taking its toll, and we are having to face the unpleasant reality that the lockdown will still be with us in some way for a considerable period of time.

The New Testament is peppered with encouragement to be an encourager. In one of the Apostle Paul’s shorter letters (the first one to the church in Thessalonica) there are no fewer than five calls to encourage... and none more relevant to our current situation than this: encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

There are some characteristics of Christian people over the years who have been a real encouragement to me. They are unfailingly gracious; they never ridicule others; they are open hearted and generous both in spirit and practice. It is a joy to be in their company and to have conversation with them. And very often they are wise and prayerful. In a word, they are living examples of the difference the Holy Spirit can make in everyday life. They are, as the Bible, puts it, people to whom we look up, and would do well to “imitate their faith”.

My five-year-old friend has started well on his ministry of encouragement, and in what he is doing, there is a very specific challenge to you and me. Who am I seeking to support and encourage these days – and are there people outside my normal circle of friends to whom I should be bringing this wonderful ministry?

Although so young, this modern-day Barnabas has a big heart – for he did send a card to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying how good it was to know that he was out of hospital. It is a great privilege to have our children as our teachers.