Persistence in Pursuing Connection: Gods Example of Relentless Love
0Top o' the Mornin' to Ya!
TLDR: Discover why persistence in relationship building mirrors God's relentless pursuit of us, and why being honest about priorities creates authentic connections instead of hiding behind the excuse of "being busy."
What?
I was reflecting on my experience trying to gather a group of neighbors together last fall/winter. I wanted to get eight men to sit around a table and connect. When I had a couple of seats open, I reached out to neighbors on a busier street near my neighborhood. I knocked on their doors, hand-wrote notes with my phone number, and tucked them in their mailboxes.
But I got nothing in response. Absolutely nothing.
Part of me thought, "Oh well, let it go." But then I realized - that's not how God pursues us. That's not how Jesus pursues us.
Why?
This realization convicted me to reach out to those households again and continue expanding my local connections and community. Even though some neighbors seem resistant to connection, and everyone claims to be "busy," I've been challenged to persist.
I've actually quit using the word "busy" because I believe it's dishonesty. Saying "I'm busy" is really saying "I don't want to tell you the truth - you are not my priority right now." It's our world's way of being "politely rude" or "rudely polite."
Lesson
There are two important lessons here:
1. If you're going to be "politely rude," recognize that's what it is. Instead of saying "I'm busy," be honest: "My priorities lie elsewhere right now" or "I'm investing my time in other ways." For those you know less well, you might even explain specifically how you're using your time in this season of life.
2. Keep reaching out and making connections even when the fruits don't show up right away. Sometimes it takes multiple attempts. Everyone thinks someone reaching out wants something from them - and we do! We're looking for connection with other beings of God's creation.
Apply
I invite you to reflect on two questions:
1. What are you pursuing further than you have before? Are you inspired to pursue something or keep getting after something that maybe you let go or put on the back burner that should be a priority?
2. What can you do to quit being politely rude (or rudely polite) and instead tell the truth? How can you be whole - inside, outside, conscious and unconscious? This will transform your life.
You be blessed!
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