Surrounding yourself with good people
A wise and willing person once said, "Surround yourself with good people, and they will lift you up."
There’s "something" we sense in those we’re drawn to—an indefinable quality that pulls us closer. At first, we may not fully grasp what it is, but it sparks a connection. Within the framework of the three churches in Revelation, this attraction can lead to one of three types of relationships:
Cold: They fail to recognize that "something," unwilling to explore or learn from it. Over time, they drift away from the bond that once held them.
Warm: They catch a glimpse of it but struggle to understand or nurture it. They waver—questioning the tie, stepping away, then returning when they feel its absence, yet never fully committing to growth.
Hot: They see it clearly, embrace it, learn from it, and rise higher because of it.
Key Insights:
Cold: Believing themselves to be self-sufficient and unyielding, walk away from the relationship, blind to its potential and resistant to change.
Hot: Through a willingness to evolve, grows stronger. While the two may not depend on the other as much over time, they cherish the connection, tending to it like a gardener—revitalizing and reinforcing the bond that lifts them both.
Warm: Caught between cold and hot, takes without giving back, neither committing nor growing, draining the relationship instead of enriching it.
Why This Matters:
We all crave Hot relationships—those that elevate us together.
How to Achieve It:
Be present in quiet, undistracted moments with that one person—away from the noise of daily life. Open your heart and mind to listen, learn, and adapt.
What to Do:
Create the Moment: Whether it’s a shared car ride, a peaceful activity, or a simple phone call, carve out time to connect deeply. It’s in these uninterrupted spaces that we truly hear, understand, and grow.
Be Willing: Take a single step toward the change or insight offered to you. Then, when it gets tough—because new paths always are—muster the courage to take another. Progress demands persistence.
Benchmark: Pause now and then to reflect. What worked? What didn’t? Release the past to move forward, but hold onto the lessons and strengths that have raised you up.
