"The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people."

-Vincent Van Gogh

I stumbled upon this quote last week. It took me by surprised. First, because it was penned by Van Gogh and second because I think he is right. It's funny, we live in a culture that uses people for our own ends. We will love people when it is covenient or is of some advantage to us. I can accept that from the world, but I am really getting annoyed by the Christian community living like that. I am the first to admit that I take full responsibility for the way I love. I grumble and complain about loving people. I complain to my wife all the time about how people bug me, use me and inconvenient me. In Then again, isn't that what love is? Love of God and others costs us everything. It costs me my free time, my comfort and my emotional energy. Why? Because I believe life is lived for me.

At the same time, I am finding this desire springing up through this twisted roots of selfish a desire that wants to love others. Not only has that desire been springing up, I also want to love others well. Simple platitudes, trite answers and canned phrases annoy me. I believe they do more damage then good. When people share struggles about life, they often have burdens, frustrations and pain that ways them down. I am tired of the church being a place of easy, hollow spiritual answers. Jesus, Paul and the other Scripture writers never give people easy answers. They give answers that shape and recalibrate their perspectives on life. The answers they give are specific and tailored made to the people's particular struggles. To do this well is an art. When to talk, when to listen. When to rebuke and when to encourage calls us to take up the brush of redemption courageously and to create - to create a conversation that leads people to Jesus.