November 3, 2008

Mergers

With the recent focus on financial matters, there is a great deal of speculation about corporate mergers. Several sites have been urging those with money to get in on the ground floor and be ready to reap the financial windfall later. The mergers are catching some of the financial gurus by surprise. Based on some “inside information,” you too should keep your eyes out for these consolidations in the future:

3M may merge with Goodyear and become: MMM GOOD
Zippo Manufacturing, Audi motors, Dofasco and Dakota mining may become: ZIPAUDIDODA
FedEx may join UPS and become: FEDUP
Grey Poupon and Docker Pants may become: POUPONPANTS

Skipping my vain attempt at humor, some mergers are very helpful. I am especially drawn to linguistic merger…where one word is added to another and there is an important new concept illustrated.

One such “merger” is found in the Greek word for encouragement. It is “paraklesis” in the noun form and “parakaleo” as a verb. Literally it is the combining of two words, “para” meaning to come along side and “Kaleo” meaning to call. It is the act of being called along side another.

A week or so ago, the local television stations in southern California broadcast some film that showed a pod of dolphins carrying for one of their own. It seems a dolphin was ill and could not swim unassisted. So here are several other dolphins tucking themselves along the side of the sick one, carrying him/her along until health returned. They were “called along side” (“parakaleo”) to help.

In our “people” world, there are a lot of folks who are limping along right now too. Marriages are under extreme attack. Children who should be frolicking outside are struggling with severe health issues. Folks are losing jobs and homes. Depression and significant discouragement seems to attack like the common cold.

It is time for us to embrace the concept of encouragement and pass it on. Stop for a moment and think of someone who can’t quite make it on their own right now. Go ahead, slip in along side them and carry them for a while.

“Comfort, o comfort my people, says your God” (Isa. 40:1)

Warmest regards in Christ,
Sherry L. Worel
Stoneybrooke Christian Schools