Spurgeon’s Blessing–or Not?

Is it possible to pass down a blessing–like a blessing from Rev. Charles Spurgeon?

Bear with me, even if this is a little fanciful, but it was meaningful to me.

There’s a famous story called “Beethoven’s Kiss,” that I’m likening to Spurgeon’s blessing.

But first, what is a blessing?

The dictionary defines it simply: “pronounced words in a religious rite, to confer or invoke divine favor upon; ask God to look favorably on.”

It’s this concept I’m using here.

Passing on a blessing

The Beethoven‘s Kiss story tells of a violinist who received a kiss of  blessing from his teacher who was a student of Franz Liszt.

The teacher explained Liszt also received a blessing by way of a kiss on the forehead from his teacher, Ludwig van Beethoven.

Inspired by that “passed down kiss,” the violinist was prompted to work harder on his music, to perform to the best of his ability.

It was a cherished moment when he looked back on his life.

He bore the mark, if you will, of Beethoven.

What does that have to do with Spurgeon?

Something similar happened to me.

But it wasn’t just Spurgeon’s blessing I received.

It also came from Oswald and Biddy Chambers.

A Sweet Conversation

I’m nearly done writing my biography of Mrs. Oswald Chambers–Biddy, as we call her around her.

Last week I had an opportunity to interview a retired Canon in the Church of England, the son of Biddy’s close friend Eva.

The Canon  is 91 years-old and he spoke with a rich British accent when we talked on the phone.

I had hoped he would remember things about Biddy–was she tall, what did she sound like, did his mother ever talk about her friendship?

At 91, he would have met Biddy during his childhood.

Other than an email exchange with Brother Andrew, I’ve not spoken with anyone who knew Biddy.

Biddy was his mother’s friend, they were “taken up with each other,” when they were together.

The Canon didn’t remember much about her.

He grew tired and before he handed the telephone back to his son, his years as a priest caused him to speak a blessing over me.

I had tears in my eyes in gratitude for his kindness, his tenderheartedness toward an American writer looking for information.

Amen.

Passing it Down

It was only later that I realized the enormity of his gift.

His mother certainly had blessed him as he grew up and entered the church.

I have in writing, examples of Oswald Chambers blessing her.

I have examples of Biddy doing the same for Eva.

You could almost say I had been blessed, therefore, by Oswald and Biddy Chambers, both.

Tears, again.

But, as a biographer, I know even more than that.

Oswald Chambers’ father was also a pastor and certainly Reverend Clarence Chambers and his wife Hannah must have blessed their son during their lifetime.

And when Clarence and Hannah were baptized at Metropolitan Temple in London, Charles Spurgeon, the clergyman who baptized them, would have spoken a blessing.

Spurgeon’s Blessing?

There you have it.

A blessing passed from Charles Spurgeon

to Clarence Chambers

to Oswald Chambers

to Eva Spink

to her son

and thence to me.

But where does the blessing really come from?

Spurgeon himself explained, “God’s heart is the source of all blessing.”

Oswald Chambers believed our blessings will be easily passed along:

“If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.”

Certainly those blessings have come to me from the Canon, Eva, Biddy and Oswald, even Clarence, and Charles Spurgeon.

But foremost, they have come from the power of the Holy Spirit–God himself–extending his Jesus grace to me.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

Thanks be to God.

Tweetables and a pinnable

Did I get a blessing from Charles Spurgeon? Click to Tweet

Blessings from Spurgeon, Oswald Chambers and a delightful Canon. Click to Tweet

Passing along blessings from God by using His servants. Click to Tweet