“Barney”

Do you know a Barney? No, not Barney Fife. I’m talking about the person in the first-century church that we know about from the book of Acts. His given name was Joseph. But hardly anybody that knew him called him that. His nickname was Barnabas, which literally translates as ”Son of Encouragement.” (See Acts 4:36.) My life has been enriched beyond measure by knowing several of these types of folks. I want to tell you about one of them.

Many, many years ago, I was on my first trip out west with four other guys. Our initial destination was Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, where we backpacked into Thunder Lake at an elevation of 10,574 feet. We split into two groups to do some exploring. The group I was with went to climb Mt. Alice, elevation 13,310 feet. It was a difficult trek for me and I did not make it to the top. I was quite disappointed and didn’t say too much when we were comparing notes at supper that night. The next morning at breakfast, Allen Doty, one of the guys in the other group, said he wanted to try Mt. Alice and wondered if I wanted to go with him. Wanting another shot at this peak, I said “Yes.” This was a day-long, strenuous trip, ascending via Boulder-Grand Pass. I can’t recall any specific words he said along the way, but I do remember Allen’s encouragement and patience helped me get to the summit on that day.

That experience occurred more than five decades ago. Not only is it a memory I still treasure, it has served as an example for me to try to provide encouragement to other folks. Although our face-to-face meetings are less frequent, Allen remains, to this day, an encourager, a person whose friendship I value, and a blessing!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing.
                                             – I Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV, emphasis added)