Connecting People

One of the things that I love to do is to connect people. There are a few things I enjoy more. I remember the first time I connected two people and how good I felt about it. I must have been about 10. At that time, I was able to “connect” one of my friends from church with one of my friends at school to play soccer together in my absence. While I didn’t realize it at the time, God used that experience to build in me the lifestyle of a “connector”.

I was recently reading in Genesis about another “connector”, and his experience of connecting people allowed me to add some definition and language to some of the things that I have instinctively been doing as I have been bringing people together. We don’t know this “connector’s” name, but we do know that he was a servant of Abraham who was charged to find and “connect” a wife for Abraham’s son. His story is found here in Genesis 24.

Here are some things that connectors do and some questions that they ask:

• Connectors must have the authority’s favor (vs. 2). Who are you representing?
• Connectors must know why they are connecting (vs. 3). What’s your purpose?
• Connectors should have a backup plan, if the connection isn’t going to work (vs. 5). What’s going to protect you?
• Connectors understand that there is often a higher purpose being worked out beyond the immediate task (vs. 7). What does God want to do?
• Connectors have the necessary resources to bring people together (vs. 10). What do you have to offer?
• Connectors understand honest, vulnerable, non-manipulative, relational strategy (vs. 13-14). What’s your strategy?
• Connectors establish appropriate markers to progress (vs. 14-15). What’s the green light
• Connectors examine people beyond the surface (vs. 21). What’s the character of those you are connecting with?
• Connectors respectfully ask the right and appropriate questions (vs. 23). What are the right questions to ask?
• Connectors know that people honor good connections (vs. 31). Are those you are connecting with grateful to you?11) Connectors are clear about expectations for those they are connecting (vs. 34-38). What expectations do you have of those you connect with?
• Connectors are vulnerable and honest (vs39). Are you being vulnerable?
• Connectors ask for commitments (vs. 49). How can you “seal the deal” towards the outcome that you are connecting people for?
• Connectors follow through and keep emotions in check (vs56). How are you staying faithful to your promises?
• Connectors let connections take on a life of their own (vs65). How can you get out of the way?

I firmly believe that to transform the world for Jesus’ glory, we need to collaborate and connect more. Being able to connect people will become increasingly important in the years ahead if we want to see God's dreams accomplished.
 
Connect!