184 – Connected and Appreciated

#FaithBites #FaithJourney # Connected

I experienced a great day today filled with many memorable encounters with students. Our conversations ranged from the curriculum to study habits to faith to religion to technology and beyond. I received many compliments on our instructional design and my openness. At the end of the day, I felt energized and refreshed. When I was leaving, I started talking to one of my colleagues about the day. We talked about what my job is, faculty development, and what I have been doing lately, faculty development, instructional design, and anything that needs to be done. Our discussion turned to what I would focus on if I had more help: would it be more of the faculty side or more of the student side. I hemmed and hawed a bit, but then he said I loved working with the students. I said of course I did as they helped energize me and show purpose.

When I left, I thought more about it. It wasn’t the students per se that I wanted to work with. It was working with people who appreciated me and who I was connected with. The feeling that we are all in this together, even though we have different jobs and responsibilities, we are connected in something bigger than ourselves. I love working with people in general when there is a purpose, growth for all, and a true connection.

We’ve talked about this a bit before, but truly being connected and appreciated is something we all long for.

Scripture on Being Connected

• Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn – Romans 12:15
• And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit – Ephesians 2:22
• For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ, we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. – Romans 12:4-5

Reflection

We should live with others. Being part of something gives us the opportunity to give and receive. We together are the body of Christ working together towards his plan. When we are not connected, we feel that our efforts are wasted. If we are not appreciated by the other members of the body, we feel as if we have no place. Think about the body example above, who wants to be the tonsils or the appendix? We want to be something that is part of the life blood of Christ. We grow with each other, we hurt with each other, and love with each other.

When I work with students or even directly with faculty, seeing their growth, their understanding, and their ability to do something new or better, gives me a sense of accomplishment. Yes, I am not the center person or the life of the party but I am connected. In many cases, I am the muscle that helps the arm hold the hammer that nails the board that builds the house. But I am thanked, truly appreciated, and loved.

When being connected comes with love and appreciation, we want to do more and help others feel that connectivity.

Charge

Are you connected to someone or something?

First, can you find someone who doesn’t feel connected and help them? Second, will you share3 your appreciation and love for someone you are connected to?

I will search for that person and share my love and appreciation with the help of God.