Loving is Required

Sunday we reflected on the Gospel of John. Such an intimate look at Jesus, such a compelling, straightforward message directly to us from Christ. Jesus said, "I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you, so you are to love one another. If there is this love among you, then all will know that you are my disciples." Could Jesus have been any clearer? If this new commandment is to be embodied and lived out so that God might be made known to others, how significant is it that the leaders of the Church clearly reflect love to those they are called to lead?

'Love' and its many manifestations in American culture can be quite distorted by images, media and jewelry sales persons. God gave each of us as His children the capacity to really know the difference between a distortion of love and God's real deal. Love is unselfish, it is pure, it is authentic, it is caring for others with nothing asked in return. Often it is difficult to describe but we know it when we experience it.

I think of the child births of my two sons. Those events were stunning and life changing moments for me. I could not have created my overwhelming sense of love for those babies if I tried. It was a gift from God that was beyond description and it was very real. That love laid a foundation of a loving relationship with them that will last my lifetime. That love is a gift that needs to be demonstrated through action, thoughtful reflection, caring and authentic conversation and decisions that will ultimately support my sons in ways that help them grow into the fullness of their lives. Parents have a tremendous opportunity to reflect Christ's love, and in doing so, recognizing the source of that love in the first place.

Just as parents have children, leaders have followers. Those followers seek inspiration, direction, faithfulness, humility yet confidence from their leaders. Consciously or unconsciously, followers also expect to see Christ's love made manifest through them. For, indeed, leadership is people business and Jesus reminded us that love is the first and most important commandment when it comes to people.

When leaders get burned out and wounded the first thing to dissipate is love. When this happens the leader's effectiveness is significantly diminished and it is a clear sign to take time out for retreat, renewal and prayer. Sometimes in that taking time out God will reveal new direction or insight. Often God will begin to refill the spirit with the energy to continue. Whatever the circumstance, it will require the capacity to return and to love those who follow.

When I see leaders in trouble I don't have to dig very far to see that a spirit of love that reflects Christ is not apparent. The caring for one another, face to face, the act of listening with an openness to hear pain and brokenness, is often not being done. Just as Christ loved us so much that he sacrificed himself so that we might know God's redeeming grace, leaders are sometimes called to do the very difficult work of loving those who are hard to love.

As we consider action at times of interpersonal challenge, never forget that leaders are called to love as Christ loved us. Facing those challenges can take our understanding of God's love to a new level. But we have to act first to experience that possibility.

What acts of love have you recently done to demonstrate Christ's love for the people who follow you?