Californians are no strangers to earthquakes.
It can be a terrifying experience; unsettling even.
Having the earth shift, wobble, crack, and roar beneath you will shift something deep within your spirit, causing uncertainty that will bring about an overthinking of all you once believed. Today’s cultural landscape has done just that for the majority, if not all, of the United States.
In fact, we might be the United States in name only.
These times in which we live have been nothing short of absolutely chaotic. Our country burns out west. Civil unrest or madness has swept through our country and appears to be a mainstay for the time being. The religion of politics has seized our nation by way of fear and the coronavirus has destroyed lives in a myriad of ways.
As I have sat back, or should I say scrolled my way through social media feeds, one thing has become abundantly clear. We may follow people and have people follow us, we may have what we call friends on various platforms, but I am not so certain that those we follow, nor those who follow us and possess the label “friend,” are even close to that.
There have been accusations hurled labeling an entire people group racist, while other people groups have torched their very own neighborhoods out of frustration and anger. And what I have learned through all of this is that I do not possess the influence that I once believed I did.
Adverse times will both reveal and unveil friends, and those you truly have influence with.
Instead of taking to a social media platform as if we can exact change with a belligerent mob that only seeks to be heard, I suggest we go old school. That’s what I’ve done.
What I mean is have conversations with those who are within your sphere.
Seek understand people.
Seek to win people. Not debate.
In a debate, there’s an opponent.
If there’s an opponent, then there’s a winner and a loser.
The tragedy that’ll occur from a debate is that you may win the debate, but you may also lose the person.
To win the person is to seek to bring them with you.
To join you.
To seek to illumine or enlighten one’s mind.
At the very least, you would both have shared your heart in a way that has protected the other’s in the process, allowing for love to knit you together whether you agree or not.
In this trying time, our culture can be a terrifying and unsettling experience.
Love and influence within your sphere.
As you do, your sphere will grow.
And with it, your influence.
Always be full of grace and truth.
Wendell Mathis, VP of Development
