Shepherding

I had the privilege of preaching on Sunday. The gospel was from John where Jesus asks Peter three times, "Do you love me more than these?" He then charges him to feed my lambs etc. On the heels of that, Sunday night we got word that our pastor was resigning and taking a call in CT. Then Mon. morning I read this post, written by Henri Nouwen which seems so timely.

Laying Down Your Life for Your Friends

Good Shepherds are willing to lay down their lives for their sheep (see John 10:11). As spiritual leaders walking in the footsteps of Jesus, we are called to lay down our lives for our people. This laying down might in special circumstances mean dying for others. But it means first of all making our own lives - our sorrows and joys, our despair and hope, our loneliness and experience of intimacy - available to others as sources of new life.

One of the greatest gifts we can give others is ourselves. We offer consolation and comfort, especially in moments of crisis, when we say: "Do not be afraid, I know what you are living and I am living it with you. You are not alone." Thus we become Christ-like shepherds.

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Friendship in the Twilight Zones of Our Heart

Henri Nouwen made an interesting observation about hiddenness. See what you think.

Friendship in the Twilight Zones of Our Heart

There is a twilight zone in our own hearts that we ourselves cannot see. Even when we know quite a lot about ourselves - our gifts and weaknesses, our ambitions and aspirations, our motives and drives - large parts of ourselves remain in the shadow of consciousness.

This is a very good thing. We always will remain partially hidden to ourselves. Other people, especially those who love us, can often see our twilight zones better than we ourselves can. The way we are seen and understood by others is different from the way we see and understand ourselves. We will never fully know the significance of our presence in the lives of our friends. That's a grace, a grace that calls us not only to humility but also to a deep trust in those who love us. It is in the twilight zones of our hearts where true friendships are born.

God's faithfulness and ours

From a website that sends daily meditations by Henri Nouwen.

God's faithfulness and ours

When God makes a covenant with us, God says: "I will love you with an everlasting love. I will be
faithful to you, even when you run away from me, reject me, or betray me." In our society we don't
speak much about covenants; we speak about contracts. When we make a contract with a person, we
say: "I will fulfill my part as long as you fulfill yours. When you don't live up to your promises, I no
longer have to live up to mine." Contracts are often broken because the partners are unwilling or unable
to be faithful to their terms.
But God didn't make a contract with us; God made a covenant with us, and God wants our relationships
with one another to reflect that covenant. That's why marriage, friendship, life in community are all
ways to give visibility to God's faithfulness in our lives together.