I hope you were able to make some of the church services offered last week: Maundy Thursday when we learned about a new commandment, Good Friday brought us to the foot of the cross and then the reality of Easter morning.

“The evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: first, it is a very unusual event, and second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live.” — Wolfhart Pannenberg.

Love one another is, of course, the mandated new law to obey, to love one another with the same love that Jesus loved us. Love is the way to give God glory. He first loved us and we are to show that same love to others.

The reigning cliche of the day is that in order to love others one must learn to love oneself. This formulation — love thyself, then they neighbor — is a license for unremitting self-indulgence, because the quest for self-love is endless.

“By the time you have finally learned to love yourself, you’ll find yourself playing golf at Leisure World.” — Charles Krauthammer. Charles is pointing out that we will never finish the job of loving ourselves.

How can we pursue loving one another? By pursuing holiness in our hearts as we love ourselves. Practice Honesty, Humility and Forgiveness.

One tendency of our fallen human nature is to hold grudges and hide our true feelings from others. This behavior leads to tension and trouble at home, at work, and at church. When expectations are not met, when feelings are hurt, when mistakes are made, too often church people nurse the hurt and let it fester until it breaks out in a nasty interaction of some kind, Such grudges and poisonous interactions grieve the Holy Spirit and hamper the church’s effectiveness. They create an atmosphere that drains leaders and drives people away. May it never be in Lock Haven!

The apostle Paul speaks to the Ephesians about a kind of Christian community that is deeper than surface niceness, that can function in turmoil and handle anger without souring or breaking apart. He knew that when real people live in real community with one another they will discover real differences and suffer real discord. This is true whether the community is a marriage, a family, a neighborhood, a church or a whole society. It is not possible to love one another without hating one another from time to time. When that time comes, Paul says, do not shut up and disappear. Speak the truth in Love. Be angry but do not sin. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you. (Eph. 4:32) You are forgiven!

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Pastor Taylor Camerer of Great Island Presbyterian Church, Lock Haven.