I’ve noticed something recently. While I was pastoring a church in Huntington Beach, CA, all my relationships outside of that church community suffered. There’s something about the spiritual and emotional fatigue that goes with shepherding a group of people—or at least the way I was doing it—that sucks all the energy from the outside network. Like a vortex, my relational energy was drawn to the local community, and my broader network fell off.
But I’m a broader network guy! And now I see I was missing that network… and I wasn’t using my networking ability with any effectiveness.
I have friends going back since junior high school, high school, college, and other ventures since. Those are meaningful relationships that I want to keep up. Some were for “that season”—gig friends—but others need to circle back around. And some need to stay integrated in every season of life. They are inner circle, or strategic, or just encouraging!
Are you in a relationship vortex?
Who are the key relationships that have been left dangling out there? Write them down. Pencil them into the calendar. It’s time to reach out and reconnect. Remind them—and yourself—of their value in your journey: past and present.
How might we build in a rhythm of intentionality for meaningful connection, and not just pretend Facebook and Instagram are sufficient?
Resist the vortex. Nurture the long-term relationships that matter.