I think in the circle of life we can all claim to be busy with our own agendas, and boy oh boy the ever increasing wave of technology does not help one bit. We, as human beings, became so fixated on our own lives and what happens on the other side of the planet or the other side of the city - that we lose touch of the moments we have with the people right in front of us.
We record, we take pictures, we Snap, Instagram and everything in between, but we do not savor the very precious moments of the present time.
If you are familiar with the Christian world of music, I am sure you have heard of Bethel Music (which is one of the most dominant voices in music today). Here I have a picture of Steffany Gretzinger and William Matthews having a moment with each other, probably exchanging hearts. This indeed looks like a very vulnerable moment between very good friends who are like brother and sister. This moment looks beautiful from where we are sitting. There is eye contact, they are sitting close to each other and there is some good physical affection. It looks like a priceless moment that maybe we cannot have in our own lives. Well, chances are that we had these moments countless times but we have severed the essence of the moment by whipping out our cellphone because someone commented on something on a WhatsApp group or someone liked our latest vain picture we posted online 15 minutes ago.
If you know me, you would know that my make-up of who I am is to savor things. If I feel passionate about something I revisit this focus in my heart from different angles until I have savored every part of it. Last year I savored on the topic of being physically affectionate, in this season I am savoring the importance of relationships.
Heidi Baker, a missionary and passionate evangelist, mentions in many of her sermons that I have watched - these words, she says: "We need to be fully present with the people in front of us". This statement corrected me on so many levels as she continued to say that we should stop multitasking when there are people in front of us. We need to be fully present.
Heidi Baker, a missionary and passionate evangelist, mentions in many of her sermons that I have watched - these words, she says: "We need to be fully present with the people in front of us". This statement corrected me on so many levels as she continued to say that we should stop multitasking when there are people in front of us. We need to be fully present.
We have shaped our lives around inhuman objects that were supposed to enhance life and not control it. Instead, we have allowed this very shame. We cannot sit around company without having a television or something to distract us from the awkwardness of vulnerability.
Throughout my life I have recognized people I really love and look up to despite their age gap from me. I know treasure when I see it. I would often embrace these people in overwhelming ways because I need an outlet to express my love. Hence this statement, I went for coffee with a friend of mine (someone I truly value). I think lately Dad has just been drawing me closer to this specific individual and inside of me I feel like a "groupie" of this person. Funny, but the feeling is true. At some point during our conversation I wanted to ask more about his story, because there is much I know of him but not knowing who he really is as of yet. I must also just say this that the only way we can get to know someone is to spend time with them. During these moments we see the truth, the hurt and the vulnerability of people. Back to the conversation I was having with my friend. I was really trying to build courage to ask more about his story, but before I knew it the tables turned really quickly. He opened the conversation. The question posed to me had led me to open up a can of worms I wasn't comfortable to do but for the sake of building relationships I spoke my heart out in vulnerability and what a beautiful time we had.
Eventually I had had the opportunity to hear a portion of his story which was my desire. My point is, the technology ruling humanity in this age could not have captured that precious moment I had with my brother, my friend.
We need to seriously unlearn what we think relationships should look like and start to learn how to genuinely be involved with the people we claim to love.
Somewhere somehow someone is going to die and the mobile device we so intricately are involved with will not help. In that day it will be the moments we have spent with these people that will be our treasure. Do not allow technology to rob you from the precious moments we have every day.
"By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us so that we can lay down our lives for our brothers" - 1st John 3:16
Let us lay down the distractions and taking note of the one in front of us. Chances are that you are sitting with someone much more worth than silver or gold.
Love is PRESENT.
Love is PRESENT.
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