Williams brought a unique quality to the Inklings, to the classroom, to personal relationships, and to his workplace. What was the exact nature of this transforming presence? Gerard Hopkins puts it this way: “He found the gold in all of us and made it shine.” Although all of the Inklings were quick to praise, Williams charged the very atmosphere with praise and encouragement wherever he went.
A desperately needed and wonderful thing to pursue for the rest of my life. I used to be this way much more. I need to re-emerge from my cave and stop grousing and frowning. I must use my gifts of discernment and intuition to see the gold, pray for others, and praise them too. Praising God is the ultimate, but maybe in doing all this, I'm praising God.
