“You are the culmination of the 5 people you spend the most time with.”
Do you agree? I’m about to close another decade of life on this planet, and it’s gotten me in a reflective mood. What have I learned? What has impacted me? Perhaps most importantly, who has impacted me?
You see, I have a lot of inputs in my life. We all do. I listen to podcasts and binge T.V. shows, get coffee with friends and have sit-downs with mentors. I read books and blogs and scroll social media. There’s plenty of things we’re all taking in that range from helpful to neutral to destructive. Over the last decade, I’ve slowly begun to appreciate just how influential these inputs are. They’re shaping me and taking up time, energy, and mindshare. Which ones are shaping me in a way I want?
I am very fortunate to have had years of intentional mentorship with a few men. I can see after the past 5-10 years how much my life has been impacted and shaped by these men, from my parenting, ministry, and marriage to my personal rhythms of faith. I find myself doing, thinking, and living as a disciple of these men.
I see the effects of what inputs we choose with my wife Emily, too. She got on an international kick. She started reading books like crazy about international missions. Pretty soon she ended up giving money that way, looking at ministries that had an international focus, and asking if we could run Trueface from overseas. What she was choosing to feed her mind with slowly grew in passion and commitment. Or for me, as I began listening to podcasts and reading books and articles about real estate, I found myself gravitating towards friends and investors who have a similar interest. As my focus turned more toward real estate, deals seemed to show up everywhere. Everyone seemed to be investing. Why? Because that’s what I was giving mindshare to.
We have a limited amount of time and attention as humans—it's just part of the deal. So what are you giving your time, energy, and mindshare to? How is it shaping you?
In short, are your inputs shaping you to live more in the freedom and love of Christ, or conform to the world around you?
Take a few moments to reflect on this passage and then ask yourself these questions.
Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
.avif)
