CONNECT.

We have come to the third of the four rhythms listed in Rebekah Lyons’ Rhythms of Renewal this week—the rhythm of connection. Once (and only once) we have begun to incorporate the input rhythms of Rest and Restore, we are ready to begin working on the first of the output rhythms. The premise of the connection rhythm is that God has created us for community, and we function better with others. While with us on earth, Jesus demonstrated how vitally important relationships were to God, and we see it spoken time and time again throughout Scripture. We were created for relationship with God, and in relationship with other people, and it is vital that we give time and energy to those relationships.

 Lyons has seven different ways in which we can develop our rhythm of connection:

-          Be the Friend You Wish to Have

-          Lead with Vulnerability

-          Open-Porch Policy

-          Bear Each Other’s Burdens

-          Hugs All Around

-          Marriage Retreat

-          Apologize First

While I probably need to work on each of these areas, the one where I am most convicted, and therefore where I want to really begin, is with the open-porch policy. While having people over is one of my most favorite things to do, I really want things to be perfect before I open my home. I desperately want to share hospitality with others, but I can’t do so until the house is clean, the serving dishes look great, and the food tastes perfect. I can think of more than one occasion where I have actually canceled a gathering because I knew I was not going to be able to achieve that level of perfection because of various hurdles, so rather than just letting people come as we were, I opted to instead close the door of connection because things were not how I wanted them.

If I had to guess, I would venture to say that most ladies that consider themselves to be “Southern” have this same struggle. I think it’s just something about the way that we were raised—there is a certain standard that is to be maintained, and it involves always having a nice house and a nice meal. However, I look back on those canceled parties with a hint of sadness, because I know that connection and fellowship were missed during those times. I could have grown closer to friends, but instead I chose to let my insecurities about what others would think hinder my relationships.

This is the same thing that happens every time we have an urge to reach out to someone, but then get too busy, or get to worried about what they will think, and decide not to do it. There is a vulnerability in reaching out to another person for connection, but the payout is so much more important than the risk.

Hebrews 10:23-25 tells us: ²³ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

God knows that we need the encouragement of friends, and that it is important for us to spend time together. At times it may be much more convenient to stay home on the couch, and every once in a while, that is even needed. However, connections with friends who can encourage and support us, and who we can encourage and support, are a vital part of spiritual and emotional health. If we want to be all that God has created us to be, we have to be sure we have meaningful connections with others.

My challenge for us this week is to intentionally spend some time deepening at least one connection. Make a phone call, plan a coffee date, or invite a new friend over for dinner. Whatever it looks like, open yourself up, and pour out some of yourself in to another!