| Is it about Results or Relationships? Over the last few weeks, really months, I have been pressed in many areas. I like checking off boxes when things are completed, both at work and in my personal life. Recently, I was preparing for a church class. I was digging in hard, spending a great deal of time looking up scriptures, developing an outline. The more I worked at it, the more I felt unprepared realizing the topic was more daunting than I first thought. In the same way, I had been scrambling at work and at home. I felt like I was on an exercise machine, talking on the phone and juggling at the same time. Just as I got my rhythm, someone would throw another ball at me to add to my circus act. After pressing in and finishing my outline about the light topic of “God's love,” I believe the Lord asked a question that I needed to hear. Is this about results or relationships? I thought I understood, but not really. Over the next few days, stressed moments with others would arise. The question would come back to me, "Is this about results or relationship?" It's very easy for me to become task-oriented, and my goal becomes finishing that task regardless of what else is going on. What I am learning is to prefer the other person in the moment and let go of the task. Give the task over to God and focus on the person in front of me. As I read in scripture about our Lord, there are many times when He was on task, but would adjust His plans to bring God's love and truth into people's lives. He didn't drop the task, but didn't have an issue adjusting His plan. This is difficult for me to learn, but when interruptions come, this is my chance to develop a relationship and show someone God's love. If you look at Luke 7:11, Jesus is interrupted by a terrible situation. A crowd is carrying a widow's dead son. In this instance, the compassion of God interrupts the situation, and Jesus touches the stretcher the dead man is on. He gives a command, and the young man sits up and begins to speak. I love what the crowd says afterwards in verses 16 and 17. "They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country." In my opinion, this is a very basic statement of our goal as Christians. Am I available to help His people? We can become very esoteric and theological when it comes to our purpose, but in the end, are we not simply supposed to help people? As we celebrate Christmas and opportunities arise, let’s choose relationship over results. May you have a blessed New Year! Tom and Joy Bollig |