“Part of what it means to be made in God’s image is our capacity for connectedness, because god created human beings and then said, ‘It is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18, TLB).’ “- John Ortberg
In Chapter 16 (“Make Life-Giving Relationships a Top Priority”) of The Me I Want to Be, John Ortberg asserts that people nourish your soul. More than anything else, God uses people to form, or shape, people. Thus, no interactions between people occur outside of God’s presence. The Holy Spirit yearns to work personally in every encounter.
Therefore, the word fellowship carriers a much deeper meaning than church basements, punch, and awkward small talk. Pastor Ortberg defines fellowship as “the flow of rivers of living water between one person and another, and we cannot live without it.”
In fact, John notes, researchers name one specific factor that separates quite happy people from less happy people. This factor consistently separates the two groups. That factor, John states, “is the presence of rich, deep, joy-producing, life-changing, meaningful relationships.” Also, the love of God and other people not only roots us, but also nourishes our souls.
In conclusion, Pastor Ortberg stresses, our capacity for connectedness finds its roots in God making us in His image. Connectedness roots and establishes us in love (Ephesians 3:17).
Conversely, John notes, connectedness isn’t the same as knowing many people. For we may have many contacts in many networks, but few, if any friends.
When love’s present in your life, that releases you to truly become yourself. You-ier!
Today’s question: After your vocation loss, what connections help you persevere and maintain hope? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: the new Short Meditation, “A vivid point of light from Scripture” (Crown’s 2,000th post)
