What does love call us to?
Where are we going?
What are we going to do?
What is the larger story going on?
What I am I apart of?
Where is this all going?
What's the point?
I could go on, but I think you get the point. Most of us have had these types of questions haunt us at differing points in our life. Be that when we graduated from school, a forced change or potential change of employment, or in the midst of some relational fallout or pursuit.
Healthy questions no doubt and depending where we are emotionally often these questions can cause more or less of a stir in our life. These questions can become larger whenever we work with or join a community. Vision is looked for and needed, whether we are the ones casting it or boldly attempting to implement it.
So, what to do?
A mentor of mine once told me a story of two individuals who have greatly influenced their life. Both were leaders, prophets if you will. Both individuals who have an ability to communicate in a manner that few possess; to bring people to the edge of the cliff or that point where a decision must be made. But this is where these to individuals differed slightly - one, would get those with them to the edge and then begin to ask people questions in order to have them own the next step they took. The other leader articulated the vision in such a manner along the way, slowly, that when the edge approached - individuals knew, though they didn't know where the next step may land, staying where they were was no longer an option.
Two unique ways of inviting others into that next right step of sharing and embodying a vision. The role of the prophet is such that these are two of many differing ways of shaking a system and bringing about change. The beauty of each these leaders is the pastoral heart that lay at the core.
Both honored the larger process that occurs when change is on the horizon.
Both required the leader to take the long path of journeying with a people, articulating things in a manner that wherever they were headed, it must be embraced/owned as the others before taking the next step.
Maybe you are in the midst of a change, maybe you sense some thing is stirring that you don't know where you are going but it is clear things must not remain the same. Maybe you've spent days, weeks and months and you are still unsure. This might be the most practical and most beneficial question we can ask of ourselves and of another, that is:
What does love call us to? (p. 197)
Discernment is often a long, tricky process. But if at the heart of it is a posture of love to and for another - clarity and direction will follow.
May the visions we cast be birthed and bathed in love. And may we discover we are stepping into that new reality all along.
*Unless otherwise noted, the book that is referenced in these posts is from Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Barton.