Connections

 

 

Sometimes, no matter how hard we try to connect, we fail.  This seems to be my life the past month.  My connections have been affected in multiple ways.  This started with limited cell service in foreign countries and terrible wifi available in our hotels.  Because of these poor connections, I was prevented from sharing my 25th Anniversary post until I returned.  The break from writing came as a gift while I focused on celebrating with my wonderful husband.  I had not intended to be MIA for the last two weeks, but no wifi has posed to be a lingering problem.  I traveled to see one of my sweet daughters and help her move into a new place.  Between the desire to accomplish her list while I was there and waiting to have her wifi installed, I didn’t feel I could take time to camp out at a Starbucks to fulfill my weekly post.  Following this, I yo-yoed from her to home to traveling with my husband to see his parents, a couple of hundred miles in the opposite direction, for several days.  I failed to write in the car and therefore, failed to post again.  Upon arriving back home, NO WIFI.  I battled the automated service system, conversed with a customer service representative and then had a tech visit to discover our modem was shot.  No connection!  When you replace your modem, nothing you formerly used connects automatically anymore.  Computers, phones, tablets and printers, yes, printers all have to reestablish connection.  The printer became my battle.  I got it to print, and then it wouldn’t scan.  Got it to scan and guess what?  No printing!  Then, our phones were dropped and not accepting the password.  Oh, the frustrations!  A new battle everyday!  

 

So, all this crazy frustration got me thinking about the times I think I am connecting with God, my husband, or friends only to discover, the connection has failed and I must reestablish it or things won’t go well.  Reconnecting seems like it should be as easy as plugging in a new modem—send a text, make a call, meet for coffee, go on a date, or spend some time reading God’s Word and praying—Voila!  Rarely is it ever that easy.  Like with our electronics, connection is never about simply plugging in, but rather it is about the constant flow received continuous connection.

 

In our walk with God, connection provides the means in which the Spirit can speak to us through His Word, our spirit or others.  We might be prompted to reach out to a friend we haven’t talked to in ages or convicted about being short with our spouse.  The more time we spend connecting with God, the better we hear and sense the prompts.  When our connection has been weak, we find ourselves at a loss for what to do or wondering why things are so off.  It is similar to my modem going out…the signal would come and go, so I wasn’t receiving what I needed, therefore not getting done the things before me.  Is your connection with God providing continuous flow?

 

In marriage, our basic connections can come through words, looks or a touch.  These connections are the beginning or basis on which to build deeper intimacy.  How we connect with our spouse provides something completely different than with a stranger or even a friend.  We desire to be known and loved by our spouse.  More continuous connection cultivates and meets the need for deeper sharing.  Work, kids, schedules and distractions can interrupt this process and if we aren’t careful, we lose connection without knowing it.  Start simple, pick one or two things to reestablish or strengthen our connection today.

Walking daily with God and our spouse is natural and important.  But engaging with others daily is less practical.  So maintaining connection with those outside this intimate circle can pose to be a bit more challenging.  Each relationship has different needs to remain connected.  Distance, schedules and differing life experiences can cause interference.  It may be necessary to check-in on our connectivity.  Staying connected will take effort and intentionality, but there is a value in friendships that have spanned the years which can’t be measured.  Stop and reflect for a moment.  To whom do you need to reach out?

 

Staying connected both digitally and relationally is hard.  I am up and running on all fronts with my electronics again.  Now I need to take inventory my relationships.  How about you?