Kevin Witt, Director of Growing Spiritual Transformational Leaders
Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership
If ever there was a time to live with great intention and sensitivity as spiritually transformed leaders, it is now! Laity and clergy alike can be Spiritual Transformational Leaders who engage others in abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever they go! What forms can love take in a time of uncertainty? How can we inspire people to healthy forms of creative community, which go the extra mile beyond “social distancing” alone? How do we acknowledge fear and still act with love while we inspire others to bring the same healing and resilient presence to their circles of family, friendship, work, school, and communities?
People hunger for nourishment that cannot come from simply pointing out the difficulty, harping on what is wrong, or litanies of critique and complaint. What observable actions bear fruit and strengthen people beyond accurate information and understanding of what is happening? Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) provides sage guidance about what we can bring and actively do by staying deeply connected with God.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” It is insightful that the writer of Galatians included that last sentence – “against such things there is no law!”
When was the last time a parent told their child to stop being so joyful? Or a young person was accused of having too much self-control! How have you been punished for being faithful or gentle or kind? It is energizing to realize that we are also free to greatly expand our lives in ways that have no limitations. It is vital that we embrace the enormous power of love because Jesus identified love as the heart of Christian discipleship and leadership. The point is that the Fruit of the Spirit can nourish and heal when we distribute them through our daily lives and interactions. Print out these two verses and hang them in a prominent place during this time of COVID-19 to remind yourself of the presence and power of the Spirit with and within you.
There is a sense that even within the COVID-19 experience positive change emerges if we have the eyes to see it. I have seen kindness return as we interact with others at the grocery store, people standing outside of windows with signs to cheer people up, and the way in which tips are given to those few wait staff who are working the carry-out restaurant business. Our appreciation for pharmacy techs and convenience store clerks takes expression in patience as we wait in line 6 feet apart from one another. Joy wells up as we walk the neighborhood to see the colorful chalk drawings and greet our neighbors celebrating the daily gifts of sunlight and fresh air, heretofore, taken for granted.
We, too, have an opportunity to be kind to others because we don’t know what their daily struggle might look like!
Another passage gives us similar guidance: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:12-14 – NIV)
As counter intuitive as it may seem, now is an incredible time when your congregation can unite together to “be” the church through intentional living today wherever they are. Building these new habits of loving relationships will help us “be” the church well into our future. We agree when we join a local congregation to uplift the church’s purpose and ministry with our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness. Our witness to the good news of God’s love in our community is most poignantly communicated in how we interact with all people within our daily relationships. Discipleship is relationship. The nature of a church’s relationship with their community and wider world takes shape in how each one of us who is a part of the body live from a heart of love. All things are connected.
Right now during COVID 19, when we seem to be limited in what we can do, remember the encouragement of Mother Teresa. “We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.” Engage your people as distributors of the Fruit of the Spirit during the pandemic and beyond so there will be no shortage of love. Whatever we do, no matter how small, if done with great love feeds the soul and brings life to all the people. We are part of God’s love for the world and Jesus’ way of life. We thank God for all of you and your leadership.