Panting for Unity

"The leader of a community is the guardian of unity. He or she must
thirst for unity and work for it day and night. For this, the leader must
not fear conflict but rather accept it and strive to be an instrument of
reconciliation; the leader must be in contact with all the different
elements in the community, and particularly with those who are in pain or
who are angry with the community. "

- Jean Vanier, Community and Growth, p. 215

This quote reminds me of my 2 year stint as our church committee member. At
that time I thought the lesson to be learned from the experience was that
one should be humble (to a somewhat ridiculous extent) and patient to get
people to come together on anything. We had a very easy time as a committee
because we were sort of in a holding pattern as a church at that time. I
also felt that I was entitled to respect for all the extra work that I put
in since I was almost press ganged into joining at a time when there was
deep division among the traditional church elders. I certainly developed a
respect for the next committee.

But over the years I have forgotten that because the church has grown
financially and people wise. Vanier reminds me that leadership takes an
enormous toll. There is a somewhat natural tendency in even the most
sincere leaders over time to close their ears to the troublesome elements of
the church. To be open and to renew commitment deep within to hearing and
reconciling discord that is the inevitable product of community is probably
not humanly possible.