Disconnected?

Who are the most important people in your life? Do you spend regular time and quality time with them? How do you make sure you stay connected to them?

When we are disconnected, we have less patience with one another. The less quality time we spend together, the more we get into the habit of living separate lives instead of living life together. Not a great feeling. Sort of lonely.

Connection takes deliberateness. It takes compromise and sacrifice. It also takes creativity.

By no means do I have this connection thing figured out. In fact, I write this post in hopes of finding ways to better connect.

Ideas for Connection

Books

I enjoy reading and talking about the books. I like to watch and talk about associated movies, discuss actors/actresses good for playing certain characters, and look forward to new books coming out. I let others choose my books sometimes as a way of connecting with them. One struggle I have in this area is how few people I know who read books anymore. Still, it’s an area of connection I’m constantly ready for.

Food

My youngest loves food. He’ll try just about anything. He also enjoys cooking. When he was still at home, we chose recipes and made meals together. Now that he has a family of his own, we still talk about food and exchange recipes. Not only is food a great connector in this way, it also connects us when we share meals together too. Sharing a meal regularly with other people is a great way to connect.

Coffee

I enjoy good coffee, and I especially love having coffee with my husband. I enjoy meeting others for coffee, too, even if they don’t actually drink coffee. Coffee, like food, is a great medium for connection. Whether at home or at a local coffee shop, connection over coffee is a great way to keep in touch and deepen relationships.

Why Connection Is Important

Scripture tells us to encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11) and to stir one another up (Hebrews 10:24). It says we need each other to make us better (Proverbs 27:17).

God’s presence becomes amplified when we’re with other believers (Matthew 18:20). We are also to have unity and brotherly love (1 Peter 3:8).

None of this happens consistently and with much effectiveness without regular connection.

To better understand the importance of connection in your life, consider how you feel when you lack connection. Even though I’m an introvert and a loner, I need regular connection for encouragement, motivation, improvement, more of God’s presence, enjoyment of the blessings of unity, and, most importantly, to truly give and receive love.

Sure, I can motivate and improve myself. Sure, I can experience God’s presence on my own. I can also say I love others easily. Yet, none of this quite measures up to the experience of connecting with others. Nothing can replace connecting. In fact, connecting with others amplifies my life in a way that isn’t otherwise possible. Without connecting, I am truly limited in virtually every area of life.