Hubby and I recently traveled far away to the other side of the country to spend some time with our loved ones.
The day before we flew out, my son sent me this photo. His company was having a “Connect” event at work. I loved how bright and cheerful the “Connect” sign was … and I loved how the neon letter reflected off the flooring.
Considering that hubby and I were traveling far far away in order to “connect” with those whom we love, I couldn’t help thinking about what it takes to have “connection” with others.
“Connection” with others doesn’t just happen. It takes intentionality to have “connection” with others. It took deliberate intentionality for hubby and me to fly across the country so that we could have “connection” with those whom we love.
It takes sacrifice to have “connection” with others. “Connection” doesn’t just happen. For hubby and me to fly across the country it took a sacrifice of money for plane tickets, it took a sacrifice of our time, it took a sacrifice of our energy.
In life, if we want to have “connection” with others it’s going to take sacrifice of our time … it’s going to take sacrifice of our finances (in some way or another) … and it’s going to take sacrifice of our energy.
“Connection” is built by conversation. Most of our time together with our loved ones the past few days was spent in conversation with each other. Conversation is what builds “connection.”
I’ve found myself thinking about the different types of “connection” hubby and I have in our life. Hubby has work buddies who come over to our house to hang out together. Two of hubby’s work buddies come over about once a month to have lunch together. Another of hubby’s work buddies comes over every now and then to do wood-working projects together with hubby in the workshop.
“Connection” is built by conversation. Hubby and his work buddies have great conversations as they hang out together having lunch or doing wood-working projects.
“Connection” requires intentionality. It takes deliberate intentionality to plan to have lunch together. It takes intentionality for hubby’s buddies to drive all the way out to our house.
Intentionality. If we aren’t willing to “go the distance” (so to speak) to meet someone, it’s going to be hard to have “connection.”
When we think about our relationship with God, the same thing is true.
If we want to “connect” with God, it is going to require deliberate intentionality to spend time together with God. “Connecting” with God doesn’t just happen. We need to intentionally put away our phone, stop scrolling, find someplace quiet … and just spend time with God reading his Word and listening to what he is saying to us.
If we want to “connect” with God, it is going to require sacrifice. We will need to sacrifice our time that we could be doing something else in order to spend time with God. When God prompts us to help someone in need, it’s going to require sacrifice of our time to help them.
When God prompts us to help someone in need, it’s going to require sacrifice of our finances (in some way or another) to help them. When God prompts us to help someone in need, it’s going to require sacrifice of our energy to help them.
“Connection” with others or with God will not happen if we are unwilling to sacrifice our time … our finances (in some way or another) … and our energy.
If we want to “connect” with God, our “connection” with God is built by conversation. Talk to God … about anything … about everything! Talk to God when we are happy … tell God how grateful and thankful we are for the wonderful blessings he has given to us. Talk to God when we are frustrated … let God be our “lightening rod” to “ground out” all of our anger and frustration.
Conversation is how we “connect” with God.
And God, in turn, will “connect” with us via conversation as we read his Word. The Holy Spirit will prompt our soul deep down within as we read the Scripture. The Holy Spirit will prompt our soul deep down within as we go about our life, bringing Scripture to our mind to guide and instruct us throughout our days.
Conversation is how we “connect” with God.
Is there someone in life whom you desire to have a “connection” with? Perhaps a family member who might seem “far away” and “distant”?
“Connection” requires deliberate intentionality. “Connection” doesn’t just happen. It’s going to take deliberate intentionality on our part to reach out and “connect” with them (however that might look).
“Connection” requires sacrifice. Sacrifice of our time … sacrifice of our finances (whatever that might look like) … and sacrifice of our energy. “Connection” doesn’t just happen.
“Connection” is built by conversation … and that isn’t just us constantly talking about ourselves. It’s us listening … actively paying attention … and actually caring about what the other person is saying. Conversation builds “connection.”
