What is a great spiritual lesson you have learned?

It’s always good to love somebody back

John Brewer, member of Lawrence Unitarian Fellowship, 1263 N. 1100 Road, and Lawrence resident:

“When somebody loves you, it is very hard not to love them back.”

So spoke Roddy Nierenberg, a cabin mate at music camp in the summer of 1963.

At the time, and coming from another high school kid, it struck me as a piece of romantic pontification, but it stayed with me.

Eight years later, I was standing at the Pohnpei airport (Pohnpei is an island nation between Hawaii and the Philippines) waiting to board my flight back to the United States after having spent three years as an English teacher in the Peace Corps.

Suddenly, out of the crowd emerged Takasi Soukon, my host father from training days in the southern part of the island. He was probably in his late 40s and had about six kids of his own.

Takasi was, I had learned from some older volunteers, something of an outcast in that village, having immigrated from the neighboring Truk district, married a local girl and done time in the local jail for pig theft.

But he was proud of me, the one “pihs kor” (of the original four who had lodged with his family during those first eight weeks) to make it through the long haul.

He took my hand in both of his and quietly beamed at me for a few seconds before I turned toward the plane. I spoke to him in Pohnpeian and told him I would write, but he did not respond. It was not a time for words.

Thirty-three years later, I still have the image of his glowing face clearly in my mind’s eye.

Roddy was right.

Send e-mail to John Brewer at jbrewer@sunflower.com.

Making hard choices enhances spiritual growth

The Rev. Peter Luckey, senior pastor, Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vt.:

One of the great spiritual lessons I keep learning is how essential it is for leaders to develop an inner life. Why do I say this? If you have ever been a leader in any capacity — a teacher, a pastor, a coach, a military officer, a foreman, supervisor, a scout, a parent, city commissioner, you name it — you know there will be moments of intense loneliness.

I once was struggling with a difficult decision. I knew however I decided I would disappoint. A dear friend and wise leader himself said to me, “Peter. There are no easy decisions. And second, no one can make the decision for you.”

There is a story in the Gospel of Matthew (14:28-31) where the disciples are out in a boat in a storm. Jesus appears to them out walking on the water. Jesus invites Peter to get out of the boat and come toward him.

In that moment, Peter faces the lonely choice of whether to remain behind in the safety and comfort of his fellow disciples or risk stepping into the storm.

As any school superintendent will tell you in this day of budget cuts, personnel issues and controversies, being a leader means being out in the middle of the storm.

Fear is a reality for all leaders. And all leaders know that though there is no panacea, the best course is often the one that, in spite of our fears, calls us to step out of our boats (our comfort zones) and into the storm, trusting that even more powerful than the waves is the saving arm of God.

A great preacher once said we are constantly being called to choose between “boat huggers” and “wave walkers.”

In retrospect, we often realize getting out of the boat was the right choice, even though it scared us out of our wits. Hindsight also teaches us that every time we make the hard choice, we grow spiritually. I like the way Christian educator John Ortberg put it:

“If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.”

Send e-mail to the Rev. Peter Luckey at peterluckey@sunflower.com.