{"id":26,"date":"2021-02-16T10:43:55","date_gmt":"2021-02-16T15:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/nursing\/?p=26"},"modified":"2021-02-16T10:43:55","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T15:43:55","slug":"agape-love-is-in-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/nursing\/2021\/02\/16\/agape-love-is-in-the-air\/","title":{"rendered":"(Agape) Love is in the air…."},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On the day before Valentine\u2019s Day 2021, I look out my window at the beautiful snow on the ground while falling snow and ice create a scenic view of the woods and farmland around my house. As I ponder the experiences of nurses and other healthcare providers since our last Valentine\u2019s Day \u2013 I am struck by the beautiful stories \u2013 even more beautiful than the snowy landscape – of these people comforting those in need around the world and how those stories reflect a love much greater than the popular intent of Valentine\u2019s Day. This also reminds me of James Kouzes\u2019 and Barry Posner\u2019s bold thesis in a Journal of Business Ethics<\/em> article from 1992 that \u201cLove is the magnetic north on the leader\u2019s ethical compass [\u2026] comprises transformational leadership, [\u2026] and constitutes the soul of ethical leadership.\u201d (p. 480).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kouzes and Posner continue by demonstrating how such leadership generates staff confidence, creates a desire to grow, transforms followers into leaders, and fosters people\u2019s sense of purpose, fulfillment, and fun in their life. So who would have considered that as leaders, we are actually loving those we work with, care for, and report to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the EMU nursing department \u2013 at all levels of education \u2013 we emphasize that nurses are leaders in all they do, if they choose to accept the challenge. One\u2019s role \u2013 whether one is a staff nurse or a nurse executive, or one\u2019s practice setting – whether working in the geographic outreaches somewhere or in an urban tertiary care setting \u2013 all provide for nurses to demonstrate love. Leadership has more to do with making a difference in someone\u2019s life rather than being a parade leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The EMU nursing philosophy describes that nurses demonstrate this leadership through the practice of agape love. Such love affirms the characteristics of leaders as described by Kouzes & Posner \u2013 listening deeply and empathetically to another, providing compassion through bearing other\u2019s pain, emphasizing service first, advocating to right injustice, demonstrating the value of all, and communicating with honesty. Further, they cite Ferris who indicated \u201c[\u2026] there is a connection between love, trust, and energy. Felt love inspires trust, trust fosters a commitment to something other than the self, and these then foster creativity, commitment, and energy\u201d (p.483).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus role models this love as he comforts, heals, and serves. Most dramatically, he engages the outcast, dines with tax collectors, heals the leper on the Sabbath, and washes the feet of his disciples. How can we also demonstrate our love to those we report to, work with, or provide direction to through figuratively washing their feet? Washing the feet of students, colleagues, and patients daily through all I do continues to challenge me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years as well as most recently, I have also been challenged that love as a nurse and human being also includes loving those whose life stories, responses to life events, and worldviews contrast with mine. This could be patients, students, colleagues, employees, supervisors, spiritual leaders, or even neighbors. Jesus serves as the role model here as well when he said, \u201cLove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you\u201d (Matthew 5:44 NIV). I would hope to believe these are not enemies. Almost 20 years ago, Chip Anderson \u2013 professor at Fresno Pacific University at that time \u2013 called us as faculty to see persons through lens as God sees them. While I have not been consistent with this invitation, I am continually called and strive to see others through God\u2019s eyes. Thus, loving them as God loves them. Are you also willing to so love others?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Such leadership love can emerge in any setting \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n