Monday, September 18, 2017

Verse for the Week: John 15:5; I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.

This past weekend, MomsHope had a special event at the Cincinnati Nature Center where we experienced a ministry called Rooted Retreats. It was a time of reflection and connection with God, self, and others within the silence and mystery of nature.

In the hustle and bustle of our busy lives, space and time are rare commodities. We were blessed with both during this powerful experience being hemmed in by grand tree’s and canopies of leaves, birds chirping and the soft sounds of bubbling brooks.

Fortunately, we have the opportunity to experience connection at this level in our everyday lives as well. Is it a challenge? Yes. But we can do it right at home by finding a quiet space to meet with God if even for a few minutes. If we want a different kind of experience, we can step outside our front doors and take a walk, or go to a park nearby. There are so many options, our only responsibility is to cut through the chaos of our crazy lives and make it happen.

Connection is our theme for this week. And our scripture is a beautiful picture of connection. But what is connection anyway? And what does it look like to truly be connected?

Our goal oftentimes is to make deeper connections with others. However, in order to connect with others, we must first connect with our God. Consequently, intimacy with God is unique in that we are unable to look into His eyes, or enjoy being held in His embrace. That kind of divine interaction can only be experienced when the earthly curtain is rendered and our feet tread the pavement of heaven.

So how do we find connection with our creator? Although He has blessed us with many ways, I think two of them are paramount here. One of which is our ability to connect through prayer. When we humble ourselves and pour out our heart to Him, the return we receive back is infinite. His presence is calming and provides a security of soul no one else can give.

We also find deep connection through His word as it directs our path, encourages us through the storms, and is a constant and comprehensive love letter. Both of these practices, however, take space and time but are well worth the effort. I promise you will never be disappointed as God’s presence is a priceless gift.

Relationships with people are a different animal altogether. They are complex and quite honestly a little (or even a lot) messy. Some relationships we enter into by choice, and some by generational ties, all of which are by divine appointment.

The things that make these relationships messy are usually due to our vast differences in personalities, appearances, and beliefs, Oftentimes, because of this extreme diversity, vulnerability in relationships can be a minefield because we can’t control what other people think or do. And this sets us up for unhealthy and unstable connection.

Some of us are emotional vomiters and overshare. Others, under share, fearing exposure and the ultimate pain of rejection. Whichever way your pendulum swings, I bet healthy intimacy is a challenge.

At a base level, connection with the world around us and the people we share our lives with seem to be at an all-time low. We’ve lost the art and ease of authentic interaction. We spend more time face down enthralled and engaged with our phones. Don’t get me wrong, I love technology. And I love my phone. But lately, I’ve been feeling drawn to connect with God, the world around me, and the people in my path on a more intimate level.

Although unpredictability is more often than not our reality when it comes to human connections, we have security in our relationship with Christ. He will never leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6) and He is always with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9). Therefore, if we are rooted in Him, our confidence and our identity are stable, then and only then are we free to love and be loved, accept and be accepted, connect and be in connection with others.

It is a full circle process—we must connect with God, and in doing so find our identity and security in Him. When we do, we are free and capable to have healthy and real connection with those He places in our paths. One doesn’t work without the other.

The truth is, our everyday life is busy, chaotic and exhausting. With that in mind, I want to encourage us, as a community, to carve out some much needed time to connect, first, with our creator, and then to the relationships in our lives that are in desperate need of connection. Maybe a parent, a friend, a co-worker, or your child. It’s time to make room for connection.

Prayer:

LORD, I am desperate for you. I want and need to connect with you. You are air to my lungs, hope to my broken heart, wisdom to all my confusion. I want to feel your presence in my life and hear your voice of direction so that I can love and connect with those you have placed in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Hugs for a great week and remember, you are not alone. Be blessed as you cultivate connection with God, yourself, and others.

Dori