"Keep on, keeping on." I hear those words often in my mind as I replay them from a moment in my childhood at Otway Christian Union Church. Those simple words were meant as an encouragement to me from someone that I highly respected and who had invested in my life--Souter Hoople. As most of you probably are aware, Souter’s Christian legacy here in southern Ohio was far reaching and one that continues through the ministry of Mt. Hope Bible Camp as Souter and his brother, Harry donated the 33 acres of property where Mt. Hope now stands. As a child though, I remember attending church services where Souter would sit on the front pew and play his harmonica or he would testify, often I would have to lean in to hear his quiet voice, but he would end by pumping his fraile fist in the air and say, "Keep on, keeping on." I also remember a Thursday night in June of 1992 when Souter explained the gospel to a few kids during a Vacation Bible School. It was on that night that I decided to follow Jesus. From that point forward, Souter and I talked regularly and he became my prayer partner--that’s for another story. I would occasionally visit him at the orchard and I witnessed a consistency in his character and testimony that was hard to deny. But to this day, there is one piece of advice that Souter told me that I believe to be some of the wisest words ever spoken. After church one Sunday morning standing around the organ, he said, “Brett, you should read a chapter from the book of Proverbs every day.” Because of that advice, I have tried to read and live by the wisdom from the Proverbs.

Interestingly enough, after Souter passed away, his niece Mary Margaret Freeman called me one day and asked if I would be interested in having one of Souter’s old Bibles. The Bible was a Christmas gift from “grandfather and grandmother Forinash to Souter Mead Hoople” on December 25, 1913. Because of Souter’s connection to Mt. Hope, his Bible has rested on the fireplace of the Beery Activity Center for a few years now, but recently, I decided to open it up and flip through the pages of the Proverbs. What I discovered was that Souter had many of the Proverbs circled in his Bible. So over the next 10 weeks, I want to share a devotion from the Proverbs, specifically those that God pointed out to Souter.

So let’s start with Proverbs 15:1, which says, “'A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

I’m certain all of us have had words said about us or to us that were hurtful and unkind or perhaps at other times, words said that were untrue. People can be demanding and unrealistic and all of this can cause us to react in, well, harsh ways if we aren’t careful. Maybe you had one of those moments already this morning? Living in close quarters with family during this quarantine has a way of testing our godly character, right? But the playing field is the same for all of us. What we have control over is our response.

The wisdom in the proverbs shows us two ways to respond. Simply put, when we respond with a soft or gentle answer, anger is diffused. Consider this. Have you ever tried to argue with someone in a whisper? It’s difficult. Well, it’s just as difficult to argue with someone who responds softly. It’s like licking your fingers and stopping the fire on the wick of a bomb.

On the other hand, a harsh comment or snide remark only adds more fuel to fire. The words "stir up” remind me of stoking a fire. The argument would soon die, but the harsh response only moves the logs around until fire soon becomes a blaze.

God’s people should be characterized by soft answers. I know this was true of Souter. He was one of the most humble and gentle people I knew. I’m not sure if he was always this way, but during the years I was fortunate to spend with him, it was an adequate description. This has caused me to think about my own life. What has been my “go to” response? What is yours?