FOCUS: Managing our RELATIONSHIPS

Over the past three weeks, Monday meditations has been looking at the topic of FOCUS.   

This is our last week in the series.

FOCUS: Managing our RELATIONSHIPS

In the past two weeks, we have taken time to reflect on how managing our THOUGHTS and ENERGY helps us maintain focus.  As we wind up the series, today we want to look at managing our RELATIONSHIPS as a way of helping us stay focused.

As I work with senior leaders, one of the questions I sometimes ask them as we explore their growth-activities is “who are your significant influences?”.  It’s surprising how many of them don’t have anyone (or very few) that they look to for support, guidance and creative thought.  Quite often, their professional positions have required so much of their time and focus that there just isn’t enough energy left to even think about acquiring or managing significant relationships that will help them on their journey.   

As a way of diving deeper into today’s topic, I want us to focus on the two words from the previous paragraph: “SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCES”. 

When we think about relationships that have a significant influence, we often think about:

• The teacher and student.

• The mentor and mentee.

• The coach and coachee.

• The parent and child.

• The spiritual leader and the disciple. 

These types of relationships have high value and are often formed for a specific purpose. 

The teacher is tasked with sharing knowledge with the student. 
The mentor has the responsibility of sharing wisdom with the mentee.
The coach is challenging the coachee to grow.
The parent is guiding the child to develop life skills.
The spiritual leader is helping the disciple grow closer to God.

Starting at 10 years old, I was encouraged (forced?) to start studying music.  We have always had a very musical family and every child was required to engage with musical study.  As such, my parents provided me the opportunity to receive private instruction during my school years, from elementary all the way through high school.  Looking back, I can say I had great teachers.  They challenged me.  They gave me ridiculously hard exercises and pushed me to get better.  They worked with my limitations and encouraged me to keep pressing on.  They enrolled me into various music programs as a way to keep me growing in different capacities.  This teacher-student relationship provided the significant influence that kept me advancing with my musical abilities.  The influences were so significant to me that I am still engaged musically today, 40+ years later. 

Q:  What significant influences have helped shape you in the past?  What did you learn from them? 

Recently, I was reminded of a biblical story found in Matthew 14:22-31 (NIV).  
Here’s what it says: 

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.  

When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 

“Come,” he said. 

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” 

Let’s use this account to help us understand the value of having RELATIONSHIPS that keeps us focused more clearly.

If you read the verses prior to this passage, you will see that Jesus had just finished teaching a very large crowd and had even provided food (fishes and loaves) for all of them; a miracle.  Long before this, however, the disciples had all made personal choices to follow Jesus.  They accepted the calling to have a relationship with Him.  At one point, Jesus had stated He wanted to make them “fishers of men”; a riddle-like statement that would become more clear to the disciples as they maintained a relationship with Him. 

In the story, Peter decided to test Jesus.  He says, “Lord, if it’s you, then let me come to you!” (my paraphrase).  Peter put his focus on Jesus and did something amazing; he walked where no man had ever walked before.  Peter’s faith in, and focus on, Jesus proved he was able to do great things.  However, when is focus went to other things, Peter began to falter and sink. A significant moment in Peter’s development, for sure.  As you read through the gospels, you will see the relationship between Jesus and Peter was truly unique and Peter became an integral part of developing the Christian community after Jesus’ death and resurrection.  

Today, we don’t have the privilege of having a direct “person-to-person” relationship with Jesus.  However, He has given us His SPIRIT to be with us at all times.  This means we are privileged to have a continuous relationship with God that is not dependent of physical proximity.  It is truly supernatural. 

We also have the opportunity to enjoy relationships with other Godly brothers and sisters who will help us stay focused on the things that have high-value.   

Relationships can help us focus because:

Proverbs 27:17 -  they are meant to sharpen each other

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 - they offer support and help.

Proverbs 27:9 - they provide good counsel.

Proverbs 13:20 - they offer wisdom.

John 15:12-15 - they are loving and loyal. 

Q: What relationships do you have today that are helping you stay focused on things that have high-value?

My encouragement for each of you is to lean deeply into your Corpath group as they provide the relationship that helps you stay focused on pursuing excellence in your business, life and spirit, in calm waters and also during the storms.

My Prayer:

God, thank you for this message today.  I express my gratitude for giving me Your Spirit and for desiring to have a continuous relationship with me.  I am also grateful for the Corpath relationships You have given me.  I pray I would do my part to help them stay focused on You as they do the same for me. Amen. 

Blessings as Always!

Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
Email: president@corpath.ca

"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"

Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.

Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.