Connecting People Like Jesus Did
A co-worker called me recently, looking for a rare computer cord with special ends. In the tech world, we call them “dongles.” I didn’t have exactly what he needed, but I had two separate dongles that together created what he needed.
I have drawers full of cords, connectors, dongles, and the like at work. I have a full tote of cables, wires, CAT5, telephone cables, and HDMI cables in my basement at home. I love to pick them up at garage sales for a fraction of their cost new. At one point, I was getting a new dongle every week from Amazon. My wife said jokingly that I was a member of the “dongle of the week” club.
Why have so many cords and connectors? Well, in working with technology at church and enjoying it as a hobby at home, you never know when you’re going to need one. Like my co-worker needing one recently. I’m glad I had what he needed. It allowed him to connect two pieces of electronic equipment. In our walk as Christians, we find ourselves
“connecting” with other people. Some people are like a simple, solitary speaker wire. They live simple, quiet, introverted lives. They keep to themselves and rarely socialize. Other people are like high-speed fiber optic conduits. You know when they walk into a room. They are a walking Wikipedia of information, current events, and trivia. They’re extroverted and enjoy meeting new people and name-dropping.
Can you connect with both the introvert and the extrovert in your community? Can you relate to both the “Sons of Thunder” at the High School sporting event and the peaceful “Timothy” next door? Are you able to converse with John and Peter? It’s not always easy.
Christians who want to influence the world around them are wise to use “spiritual dongles” to interface with their neighbor. Ideas include shared hobbies such as hunting, fishing, or boating. Family can open the door to communication. Asking about their spouse, children, and grandchildren will go a long way in conversation. Questions about someone’s background can lead to shared places, people, or events. Find out where they are from, when they moved to the area, and who they are related to. Additionally, current events can connect you to your neighbor. Talk about local, state-wide, and national current events to find shared interests and common viewpoints.
Jesus involved himself in carpentry, fishing, and traveling on boats thus making “bridges” to those with similar livelihoods and hobbies. He asked the woman at the well about her husband, which opened quite a candid conversation. Conversation surrounded Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth when Philip told his brother, Nathanael, about Jesus. Events and holidays such as the Festival of Tabernacles, the Sabbath, and Passover all play a part in Jesus’ life, connecting with other people.
Just as those cords and dongles in our drawers help bridge connections between devices that otherwise couldn’t communicate, so too can we be the connectors God uses to bring people closer to Him—and to one another. Each of us has unique “ends” that fit certain people and situations. Some days, we might be the missing piece that helps someone make sense of life or faith. Other days, someone else may complete the connection for us. When we’re willing to meet people where they are—whether quiet or loud, near or far, similar or strange—God can use those everyday “connections” to share His love and truth in powerful ways. After all, even the most advanced system can’t function without a good connection.