Jesus looked at the rich young man, and he loved him. The young man had followed all the laws for his entire life. He was earnest. He was religious. He wanted assurance of eternal life. Jesus looked upon him and connected spiritually with him and loved him. But…
Jesus loving him and connecting with him was not blind to the entire person. Jesus saw that there was something holding back the young man. He did all the right things, yet he felt no assurance of eternal life. He did, yet he did not feel. Jesus saw that and went to the root cause of the problem–the man’s wealth. It stood between him and salvation.
Today’s point is that we can learn connection from Jesus. It doesn’t mean analysis. It doesn’t mean ignoring unpleasant truths about the person. It means we connect at a deep level and come to understand the other.
Henry Cloud talked about happy people connecting with others, as I wrote the other day. This could almost be seen as a revolutionary statement in today’s American culture, not to mention many other cultures to be sure. He was speaking to Baby Boomers–often called the “Me Generation” after their orientation. The “It’s all about me” generation. And then there are kids of Boomers supposedly raised to be narcissistic. Once again, self-centered. Can people who worship themselves connect spiritually with others?
I don’t think that this orientation is unique to people born over the past 60 years. When you read ancient books–for example, the Old Testament–you see that self-centeredness is actually just a human condition that God wants us to overcome.
Our church sponsors a summer camp experience for teens. The theme used to be (I have no idea any more what the themes are), JOY–Jesus first, Others next, Yourself last. An apt teaching.
There are people who think they connect with others, but they are far from the mark. A long time ago (30 years?) I had a boss whom I kept admonishing to stop making agreements with himself about other people. You sort of need to include the others if you’re making agreements. He didn’t connect. In fact, his failure to connect with others drove the business to bankruptcy.
Check yourself. Are you trying to connect with others? Are you deluding yourself into thinking you’re connecting when you’re not really? Do you practice this piece of wisdom from Ernest Hemmingway, who said, “When others talk, listen completely”?
Faith Venture 
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