Staying current with someone else is a challenge. On good days and bad, staying connected requires candor, transparency, and trust. If one is missing, the link weakens. If all are missing many things can happen however staying current is not among them.
As I look at my management team and relationships, I know my travel schedule is an obstacle. Time zones, along with conflicting commitments and priorities, often make the process difficult. There are no easy answers. One can talk of staying put, however the choice may not be compatible with one’s profession. One can talk of alternative lifestyles, but this may not be feasible for everyone. Even someone living in the same place and in a familiar groove may struggle with connection conundrums. Any one of the points above can create a barrier to staying current with another.
I find myself holding onto the following reminders.
Connecting starts with letting others in on what you are thinking. I realize that this is not always natural, easy, or safe. There is a link between confidence and the ability to share. One must understand one’s self as a start. It is “the same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us.” (1 Corinthians 2.11) Staying current with others means that I need to see myself and be willing to share.
Connecting requires an investment in time and energy. Connecting is more than just facts or information. It is about the stuff in between the lines of our lives. It is about the process, reasoning, and intent behind our thinking.
Connecting requires mutual trust. Do I trust God? I may think one way, however on reflections in the stillness of a dark night, I have an opportunity to see reality. Do I trust others? Trust is a choice. Experience helps but it is cannot be the only foundation for trust.
As today dawns I realize the time to connect has begun.
