WHO MAKES UP MY VILLAGE?

I've written in the past about the importance of taking steps that help keep us focused on where we need to be spending our time and energy. In today’s world it is so easy to become distracted, because we are pulled in so many different directions, and that often causes us to lose focus on what we actually WANT to get accomplished and who we need to be investing in.

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DISCOVERING WHO MAKES UP MY VILLAGE

BEING INTENTIONAL WITH OUR TIME AND ENERGY

It was Corrie Ten Boon that stated "If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy." Our society today certainly values busy, and there is nothing wrong with BEING busy, except when that busyness distracts us from what we SHOULD be focusing on.

I first noticed this issue when I saw a communication strand from my church sharing that a church member had just delivered her baby, and the church was offering its members the chance to sign up for a meal train. I didn’t sign up for the meal train, but then I was dealing with a lot of guilt because of it, especially when other church members asked me if I had signed up to deliver a meal.

When I sat down to curiously explore this guilt, I realized something very important. I didn't actually know this person, and, even though we went to the same church, she wasn’t someone I was “called” to serve. She just wasn’t a part of my “village.” The enemy was using this guilt to distract me from who I was actually supposed to be focusing on.

MY "VILLAGE" THEORY 

I have a theory that we are designed to psychologically function in a “village” setting. We don’t actually have the bandwidth to be taking in so many additional stressors, tasks, and responsibilities that were never designed to be ours.

This realization led me on the journey of beginning to define who actually was in my village. My “Village” theory includes two groups of people:

GROUP #1 

The first group, known as the Serving Circle, includes the individuals in our life that we are called to pour into and invest in. These individuals may include our physical neighbors, certain family members and friends, individuals in our local community, long-distance relationships, etc. Basically, anyone! But not everyone!

It’s important to define who these individuals are, because we often, out of a sense of duty or desire to be liked, get pulled into saying “yes” to more than we should. We need to be good stewards of our time and energy. Knowing ahead of time who is actually in this group will help us know when to say yes and when to say no.

GROUP #2 

The second group, known as the Receiving Circle, includes the individuals in our life that may pour into us. What’s important to note with this group is that, while there may be overlap with individuals residing in both circles, individuals in this second group aren’t necessarily assigned to the first group.

This can be difficult because often we feel the burden to reciprocate when someone has taken the time to pour into us, but discernment is needed to determine who we are actually called to put our time and energy into. We don’t serve out of a sense of duty or guilt, but a calling.

For those individuals that serve and pour into us, take time to display appropriate gratitude and appreciation, and then put it aside so it doesn’t influence the discernment of who YOU are called to serve and invest in next. It may be someone who poured into you, but it may not be.

The same is then true for those you serve. They don’t owe you back after you’ve poured into them. They might include you in their serving circle, but they also might not, nor are they required to.

TAKING ACTION!

Remember, your village consists of those who pour into you, but also includes those you are called to pour into. Individuals may be included in both circles, but not necessarily. Your assignment is to define the group you are called to serve and then enjoy pouring into them.

It is important to define and understand your "village." It goes a long way to helping us stay focused and be less distracted.

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