Happened to come across this in my feed and am glad to have read it. As someone who now no longer identifies with the Christian path but has had a lifelong love and fascination with the life and works of Jesus and the way of being he asked us to emulate, I, too, am moved by those who understand leadership as a vehicle for service, characterized by a tremendous sense of responsibility. Thanks for describing that so eloquently… and blessings to you on your journey into that very kind of leadership.
Beautifully expressed. Thank you Chris for shining a light on the question of our motives as we lead. I love the way you bring that into your prayers - we all know that our own motives are confusing at best. “Search me, O God and know my heart”, because I can’t be sure of my own heart. This self awareness is critical for us to be the servant leaders Jesus modeled for us. I am blessed and honored to have your leadership in my life.
Oh my God I love this. It brings to mind that favorite line from Jeremiah: “For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt.” Ministry is a willingness to take on, to take in, the hurt of others as your own. It’s this weird voluntary laying down of your emotional shields — not in unhealthy enmeshment, but in willingness to truly feel others’ pain as your own, not just tsk tsk about it. The pope is the only one of us who says Yes to taking in the tears of others on a worldwide scale; unimaginable to me. I’m glad there’s a Room of Tears set aside just for this. And I’m glad you wrote about it for us.
Thank you, Chris, for the reminder of the responsibility that goes with being a Christian leader. I saw Pope Leo’s tears and thought they might be nerves. I’m sure he was nervous. But I am more convinced the tears were due to his recognition that he will have the opportunity and the responsibility to demonstrate Christian leadership to a significantly-larger flock. Thank you again.
Thank you, Chris, for a reminder that for some, it is not power, but empathy that a leader in the church must feel and model and represent to the community of parishioners.
Thanks Chris such a good article. The only thing I would add is that any leadership a Christian takes on, I believe, should be with "tears"... and we all lead somewhere.
I'm also reminded of the scene in the old movie The Mission where the rich conquistador after hearing the call to go defend the Amazon indigenous tribe, gradually shed all his armor and belongings as he made his way to them. He discarded not just his possessions, but his identity and ultimately his physical life.
You just put to words a lot of the things I have been thinking for the past month!! Thank you for naming them with grace and understanding. “Tears reveal one who has made peace with this kind of ending that is also a new beginning.” So good.
As 🇨🇦 Irish-Catholic, raised in a sprawling extended family with an Uncle priest, and three Great-Aunt nuns, I am personally acquainted with the phenomenon of tears as part of the practise of my faith. And that's because I am a lesbian, out for more than 40 years now, who could have contributed so much to the work of uplifting community through my faith.
But my church, and numerous people purporting to speak for it over the years, made it clear that I would always be lesser in their eyes. And all I could do was say "God made me in the palm of his hand, he knows me as I am, he dies not make mistakes, and I am one of his children.".
And then step away, and do work to achieve that effect outside the insitution of the church. And yes, I miss Pope Francis, more than you can know.
Happened to come across this in my feed and am glad to have read it. As someone who now no longer identifies with the Christian path but has had a lifelong love and fascination with the life and works of Jesus and the way of being he asked us to emulate, I, too, am moved by those who understand leadership as a vehicle for service, characterized by a tremendous sense of responsibility. Thanks for describing that so eloquently… and blessings to you on your journey into that very kind of leadership.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Incredible.
Thank you brother 🙏
Beautifully expressed. Thank you Chris for shining a light on the question of our motives as we lead. I love the way you bring that into your prayers - we all know that our own motives are confusing at best. “Search me, O God and know my heart”, because I can’t be sure of my own heart. This self awareness is critical for us to be the servant leaders Jesus modeled for us. I am blessed and honored to have your leadership in my life.
Oh my God I love this. It brings to mind that favorite line from Jeremiah: “For the hurt of my poor people I am hurt.” Ministry is a willingness to take on, to take in, the hurt of others as your own. It’s this weird voluntary laying down of your emotional shields — not in unhealthy enmeshment, but in willingness to truly feel others’ pain as your own, not just tsk tsk about it. The pope is the only one of us who says Yes to taking in the tears of others on a worldwide scale; unimaginable to me. I’m glad there’s a Room of Tears set aside just for this. And I’m glad you wrote about it for us.
Thank you for this perspective - and your kind encouragement.
Really appreciate this Chris. Thank you.
Thank you Bryan! Means a ton from you bro.
Thank you, Chris, for the reminder of the responsibility that goes with being a Christian leader. I saw Pope Leo’s tears and thought they might be nerves. I’m sure he was nervous. But I am more convinced the tears were due to his recognition that he will have the opportunity and the responsibility to demonstrate Christian leadership to a significantly-larger flock. Thank you again.
Thank you, Chris, for describing Christian leadership in all its complexity and beauty.
Thank you, Chris, for a reminder that for some, it is not power, but empathy that a leader in the church must feel and model and represent to the community of parishioners.
Thank you…I’m praying for an increase in empathy amongst leaders in the west. Myself absolutely included.
just saw this—nice.
Thanks Chris such a good article. The only thing I would add is that any leadership a Christian takes on, I believe, should be with "tears"... and we all lead somewhere.
I'm also reminded of the scene in the old movie The Mission where the rich conquistador after hearing the call to go defend the Amazon indigenous tribe, gradually shed all his armor and belongings as he made his way to them. He discarded not just his possessions, but his identity and ultimately his physical life.
Insightful, John…thank you for reading and commenting. Have not seen The Mission but I’m intrigued…
Beautifully written.
Thank you, Tyler 🙏🏻
You just put to words a lot of the things I have been thinking for the past month!! Thank you for naming them with grace and understanding. “Tears reveal one who has made peace with this kind of ending that is also a new beginning.” So good.
As 🇨🇦 Irish-Catholic, raised in a sprawling extended family with an Uncle priest, and three Great-Aunt nuns, I am personally acquainted with the phenomenon of tears as part of the practise of my faith. And that's because I am a lesbian, out for more than 40 years now, who could have contributed so much to the work of uplifting community through my faith.
But my church, and numerous people purporting to speak for it over the years, made it clear that I would always be lesser in their eyes. And all I could do was say "God made me in the palm of his hand, he knows me as I am, he dies not make mistakes, and I am one of his children.".
And then step away, and do work to achieve that effect outside the insitution of the church. And yes, I miss Pope Francis, more than you can know.