Be Courageous, Be Changed

Throughout my life I was often intimidated to interact with people that I deemed more successful or more influential.  I feared that my communication would be a burden to them, and as a result I would shy away from those opportunities.  That paralyzing social awkwardness began as a child when I would hide my face in my lap when people made prayer requests at church.  I somehow feared that their presentation would upset the social flow of the service and turn people away.  When I was required to sell a box of candy for a boy scouts fundraiser I decided to buy the box myself and give the candy away.  In college this fear manifested itself in avoidance.  I felt unworthy to be a part of certain social circles and simply avoided them. 

My irrational fear came from a confused view of worth and a wrong attitude toward wealth.  Most fear comes from believing a lie about who we are or who God is for us.  I recall a tailgating event where two guys were talking about their watches and how they went about insuring them.  To them it seemed a very normal conversation but it caused me to want to crawl away in fear that my lack of wealth would prevent me from being able to add value to their lives.  It was not an overt insecurity but one that promoted an avoidance mentality in me of people that I perceived to be more successful or knowledgeable.  As a result I was missing out on some very valuable connections.  

Several years ago a minister had a prophetic prayer that I would draw on the friends that I had locally for the benefit of the church.  The prayer helped strengthen me in that pursuit.  Prior to that point I seldom invited my friends to come and minister feeling that any request would place an undue burden on them.  I failed to see that they might appreciate and value the opportunity to come and connect and serve, as I would for them.  As a result I never gave them the opportunity to say yes or no.  Since then I have learned that powerful people are okay with being asked and okay with saying yes or no depending on their own circumstances.

In the last year I have had the opportunity to interact with some of those "successful" people both near and far.  To my surprise not only are they amazing in their life pursuits but they have been wonderfully inviting in my interaction with them.  As a result I have been challenged to live from a higher standard in my interactions with others.  By connecting with them it has raised my vision for interactions with people from all areas of life.

Bob & Kathy Campbell are one of the wonderful friends that we have had the opportunity to interact with more this year.  (http://ignitedministries.org/)

Here are two key lessons from these experiences and interactions:

1) Have the courage to explore connections with people of influence from a wide range of disciplines.  Don't badger them or demand from them but also don't be afraid to open the door to relational connection.  It's helpful for me to remind myself that people are people regardless of what they have accomplished in their lives.  We all have hopes and dreams, insecurities and a need for love and encouragement.  

2) Treat all people the way you want to be treated.  Let the times when you have been treated better than you deserve serve as a motivation for how you can treat others.  For that to happen recognize that you may need an upgrade of experience to know how you want to be treated.  When someone whom you look up to and respect takes time to value you it should lead to a desire for you to do the same for others.

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
- Matthew 7:7