Three Times

Peter was a human.

He's not a metaphorical character.

He was passionate.

He was impulsive; in thought, word and action.

I bet the other disciples either thought or said out loud sometimes, "Wait 'til Peter hears

about this," and then laughed about what they thought Peter might do.

I love him so much.

So did Jesus.

He gave room for Peter to be Peter.

He also challenged that impulsive character over and over.

Called it out.

Refined it.

Redirected it.

And even on occasion, praised it.

(I think he does the same for us...when we are listening to him.)

John 21 is one of my favorite chapters in the New Testament.

There's a lot of real stuff going on there.

It's interesting that John concludes his gospel with a story line that is so closely

woven around the "Jesus and Peter" dialogue.

John lets us know that he's there, but the real focus is "Jesus and Peter."

Peter says, "Let's go fishing"

Peter jumps out of the boat when John notices Jesus on the shoreline.

Peter pulls the net full of fish ashore so Jesus can make breakfast.

Peter has an intense conversation with Jesus after breakfast.

Peter is told about his martyrdom.

Peter tries to deflect the conversation to John.

It's a lot to take in.

I want to touch on the one general thought that is reaching out to me today.

Three times..."Do you love me?"

It feels like Peter is fairly annoyed with the process.

And when I've read this before I think I have coupled Jesus responses to communicate

something like, "well...if you really do love me, then feed, tend or take care of others."

As though doing these things would prove Peter's love for him.

However, like I mentioned earlier, Peter was always ready to act.

When reading this passage most recently I wondered if that was really what Jesus 

was getting to.

I'm thinking that it may be actually almost the opposite.  

I think today that what I hear Jesus saying is this, "LOVE ME!"  

Full stop...and then...

It is the only way that you will ever be able to do any of the things you'll need to do in 

your life.  It will all flow out of your love for me.  If you don't LOVE ME...If you can't 

live in me and that love, and I live in you, bringing you strength and power 

through my love, you'll never be able to feed sheep or completely follow me

because honestly...it's humanly impossible.

It's his love for us, and in us, and our love for him that will sustain us.

It will keep us focused and able in whatever is before us.

Draw us out.

Draw others in.

At beginning and end.

There's no other way.

Holding Space

At a meeting last week.

I watched a friend facilitate something worth sharing.

We were together looking ahead at the decision to select a leader.

It wasn't for a Fortune 500 company.

It wasn't within a thriving metropolis.

Wasn't really even a big village.

The decision wouldn't be pushed out to media outlets.

Still, it was an extraordinary moment for me to witness.

Something I will never forget.

It went like this...

A while back there was a leader who fell into a difficult season of life.

Their health in several ways, was depleted.

And so he stepped down, and another was appointed.

But although the former stepped down, they didn't step away.

And the people who had followed him wouldn't let him go, during this difficult season.

Not even the one who had replaced him.

They practiced love and community like we talk about it being practiced,

but don't always see.

Then, a bit more than two years later, the other ran into their own very difficult season.

And they had to step down.  

During that time, the first had been able to find their footing again.

And because he had stayed connected; with everyone,

Because they shared love and hope and affirmation with each other,

It seemed completely appropriate to the selection team to reach out to the one

who had stepped away earlier.

Not as a default, but as a joyous moving forward for everybody involved.

As though there may have been a plan in motion all along.

As though a story was being written and this selection was the next chapter in that story;

just now revealed.

Oh.....and I should say that on the selection team there was someone who 

served alongside each of those past chosen leaders.  

Someone who saw themselves in that role of support to each, and although they had the training and 

experience to offer themselves as a candidate, they instead held space for those mentioned above, throughout the process.

Extraordinary.

This idea of holding space for others.

Human beings are worth more than being cast aside and forgotten when they stumble or struggle.

In the practice of true community we will have the opportunity to witness the whole of the story.

If we stay with it through the rough parts.

It's a beautiful thing to see.

It's even a bit miraculous.