November 13 - 1 Peter 5: Diligent & Spontaneous Care

The words that Peter uses to write his concerns to the church leaders are not necessarily the usual words used in leadership development:

I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for—

God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.

So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you. (v. 1-5)

Act spontaneously. Tenderly show the way. Be down to earth. Be plain, content, without airs, carefree. These counter-point ideas to the leadership culture of today remind me of a recent reading from St. John of the Cross,

"...John was known as a listener. He was said to 'disapprove of those masters who spend all their time lecturing their novices instead of recognising their level and guiding them accordingly'. When he listened, he wished to learn, to share a journey; and so for him a favourite way of teaching was to ask questions and draw the person further along the line of their answers....

"Sensitivity to the other person characterised John because, in his view, it characterises God.... To spiritual guides who might want to put people in boxes, he says that 'God carries each person along a different road, so that you will scarcely find two people following the same route in even half of their journeys to God.'

"No two people follow the same route, because each person is unique and God is infinitely varied....

"This, John believes, is God's teaching method: to give himself in a way the person can handle.... God treat us 'with order, gentleness, and in a way that suits the soul.'" (The Impact of God,  Soundings from St. John of the Cross, Father Iain Matthew)

St. John of the Cross is reflecting what Peter wrote through inspiration, and his writing fleshes out a little more what it means to be a spontaneous, tender, down to earth leader - whether in parenting, volunteer projects, career, or ministry.