The Hard Task of Love

Last week was a “learning week” in which I felt God was challenging me to see things His way -with loving eyes - instead of relying on my own inadequate, myopic attempts at understanding. First, I was confused and upset, then asked God to lead me, and finally acknowledged that I can’t see the big picture (or my place in it) yet.
As I wondered what my place was, what was being expected of me, how I could be relevant, I picked up and re-read a short book by Henri Nouwen, entitled In the Name of Jesus.

Nouwen, writes how he “stepped away from the academic life to accept a call to be a priest for mentally handicapped people and their assistants...[and moved from] the best and the brightest, wanting to rule the world, to men and women who had few or no words and were considered, at best, marginal to the needs of our society.”

Nouwen points to how the first temptation Jesus faces in the desert is to be relevant, to change rocks into bread. Anyone who has a business, works, guides a family, loves a spouse, teaches a class, serves on a committee, has a blog that you want people to read, or any other numerous activities is prodded by this same temptation to be relevant. I know I am.

As I read along, I was struck by the idea that God does not need us to be relevant, He needs us to love others. My first thought was, “Easier said than done.” Here’s how Nouwen writes about it:

“The question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show some results?
But: Are you in love with Jesus?”

Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him. My kids get annoyed when I repeat things to them, but when I use this tactic, it’s because I want to be sure they heard me right, that it really sinks in and that later, they won’t say, “I didn’t hear you say that.” My repetition is a way of making sure they get it. Jesus wanted to make sure Peter “got it” and he wants us to “get it” too.

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.”
~John 21:17

In the same manner, if we love Jesus, we will feed His sheep. Feeding his sheep means we will act even though we fear, give even when we don’t feel generous and love even though it’s hard.

It seems easier to be God than to love God,
easier to control people than to love people,
easier to own life than to love life.
~Henri Nouwen