He was struggling

mightily in his attempts to learn karate. The problem was not his athletic

prowess or his ability to learn the skills. His problem was himself. He

was his own worst critic and he was brutal.

I felt sorry

for him, really. He didn't enjoy the classes, always felt that he was

behind the others, and was extremely self-conscious. At 15 years old,

he had worked himself through the first two belts but his progress had

slowed measurably.

One day, during

an outdoor practice session, I called him aside and said, "I've been

watching you practice and I need to say something to you." I could

tell that he was expecting a stern rebuke. He may have even have thought

that he was about to be bounced from the class.

I continued,

"I've been in karate since 1965 and, since the early 1970s, have

taught hundreds of students. A number of those have been promoted to black

belt and some even have their own schools now. I pretty well know who

has the 'right stuff' and who isn't going to be able to hack it."

He hung his

head and stared at the ground.

"I know

talent and ability," I shared, "and here is what I need to say

to you." With that, he visibly braced himself. I put my hand on his

shoulder and said, "You are better than you think you are."

I then walked away.

Since I turned

my back on him, I don't know how he took that news. All I know is that,

in the coming weeks, he blossomed. His basics, his patterns, and his fighting

skills all experienced a remarkable improvement. By the time he graduated

from high school, he had been promoted to brown belt, just one step shy

of receiving the coveted black belt. All he needed was a word of encouragement.

Dr. Laurie

Thompson, Dean of the Doctor of Ministry program at Trinity Episcopal

School of Ministry in Ambridge, Penn., calls people who share such words

of encouragement "balcony people," a phrase he borrowed from

Keith Miller. These are the people who want others to succeed and are

cheering them on from the sidelines (or from the balcony). I have a number

of people like this in my life.

Helen Doukas

is a "balcony person." Mrs. Doukas is a Greek Orthodox believer

who moved from Maryland to Georgia in the recent past to be with members

of her family. She looks much younger than her 84 years. Every time that

she is in worship services at our church, which is nearly every week,

she always makes a point of stopping at the door on her way out to tell

me what a great sermon I preached that day and how much she appreciates

and values me.

Now I know

that I don't always preach great sermons and I am aware that, as a public

person, my faults are out there for all to see (for example, I tend to

say "yallow," Instead of "yellow). I sometimes go a bit

long and I'm not the best looking or the most intelligent pastor in the

community. Yet, Mrs. Doukas loves me and encourages me regardless. I think

I preach better when she is present, and I am always lifted by her encouragement.

She is, for me, a "balcony person."

Jereme De Leo,

a seminary student from Newnan, preached his first sermon at St. Matthew's

Church, a mission of our congregation, a few weeks ago. He did a great

job but, by the body language of the small congregation nd the compliments

that he received following the service, you would have thought that Billy

Graham had come to Hogansville. Why?

Because nearly

the entire church was populated by "balcony people." These folks

paid attention, sat on the edge of their seats, leaned forward, said "Amen"

at appropriate times, and gave smiles and nods of agreement. He responded

beautifully and interacted with the congregation during the sermon. He

knew that he was being received and appreciated. "Balcony people"

can help you to get farther than you think you can go.

The Apostle

Paul had a falling out with young John Mark in the Book of Acts. Evidently,

John Mark had failed to measure up in some way. Paul wanted nothing more

to do with him. Barnabus (whose name means "encouragement")

saw some in John Mark, however, and took the young man under his wing.

Years passed as Barnabus poured his life into John Mark. Near the end

of his life, the aged Paul, in prison and in the shadow of his execution,

wrote to Timothy, "Be diligent to come to me quickly. Get John Mark

and bring him with you, for his is useful to be in the ministry"

(2 Timothy 3:9,11 NKJV). What a difference a "balcony person"

made in the life of a youthful failure.

The world is

full of nay-sayers and spreaders of discouragement. It is all too easy

to find fault and to identify problems. "Balcony people" seem

to be in short supply but their influence is sorely needed. They can,

who are willing to tell us how we fail to measure up. But all of us need

people around us who believe in us and who help us believe that "we

are better than we think we are."

[Father David

Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church in the

Coweta/Fayette County area. He may be contacted at [email protected]

or at www.ctkcec.org.]