Heartbeatنموونە

How do you really feel about being around people? I know that sounds like a funny question, but really think about that.  For some people, being in groups, at parties, etc. recharges them.  It energizes them.  But for other people it can be draining.  Some people recharge in quiet rooms, with a good book (or movie), being around nobody at all.  Regardless of the kind of person you are, it’s still important to realize that relationships play an incredibly important role in our lives.  We are wired to spend our lives in community. When that doesn’t happen, we miss a part of what it means to live fully. 

Jesus modeled this for us. At one of the most agonizing and emotionally trying times of his life, he went to the garden of Gethsemane and confided his greatest sorrows and troubles to three of his closest friends (Matthew 26:37). Jesus could have skipped this step of community and instead gone straight to God in prayer (v. 38). However, by inviting others in and sharing his inner world, he demonstrated for us what it means to be fully human. Even for Jesus, the Son of God, life on this earth was better connected to others! Jesus didn’t mask his desire for connection and community within the body of Christ. 
 

Relationships are about dependence. So, who are you depending on? Who do you need? If your initial answer is “nobody,” then maybe it’s time to reexamine yourself. If your initial answer is “everybody,” then maybe it’s time to follow Jesus’ example and choose a few close, safe people to share with. If your initial answer is, “I don’t know,” then maybe it’s time to address those feelings. Remember: get out of your “comfort zone”.  Try something different.

Take a step toward depending on another person or two. Who are your closest relationships?  Who are you depending on? How can you grow your circle of friends, or become that kind of friend for someone else who needs you?