I am an avid supporter of electronic devices and social networking. I think in some ways it is to my detriment. I believe that being too connected can actually damage us and our relationships.
We walk into church or work, put on a face… do our hello, how’s it going, goodbye and head back out the door. We cannot autopilot fellowship. We have to decide to share our lives with others. Yes, it takes effort.
This is especially true when you are in leadership. How open and honest can you really be when everyone is looking at you or up to you? Sometimes, because you can’t share something with everyone; you end up sharing it with no one. I have seen this happen many times. People hold things in and hide their faults, failures, and doubts mostly because they are trying to hold onto this persona that doesn’t even really exist. This is where no one is safe… this is where the enemy lures us into solitude without the support and love of God’s people.
You could always spend your life inside a house and never go outside. What you will find is that you don’t get wet by the rain but you also never feel the breeze or the sun shining down on you. Yes, going outside does make you vulnerable to the elements of nature, however, living life as an emotional and relational recluse is a terribly tragic existence to choose when God has prepared so much more for you. And, to be honest, even the low points of life, the hurts, the rejection, and the disappointments cause a growth in you that you will never find elsewhere. So, pain to our hearts as rain to the soil… causes growth.
But, what will people think if they know you are imperfect? I dare you to be yourself. I dare you to open up and connect with someone. Why is this so difficult? It is because it forces us to be vulnerable. Well you know what? The most rewarding relationships you will ever experience are the ones in which you are the most vulnerable. So, take a chance… let someone in.
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