Underneath Everything

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Yesterday, I shared a story from my missionary journey about how we kept our attitudes positive with a simple rule called “seven-up.” Whenever someone made a teasing remark or a negative comment, anyone could say “seven-up,” and the person would have to respond with seven genuine compliments in a row. There was a memorable leader in our group—his name escapes me now—but he stood out in every way. He was a tall, strong adult among us teenagers, probably six-foot-five, muscular with a friendly belly, curly red hair, a big curly beard, and freckles everywhere. More than anything, he was a beacon of light everywhere we traveled, always lifting spirits and spreading joy. When situations became heavy or difficult, he reminded me of Tom Bombadil—a joyful character from Tolkien’s The Lord of the