“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed (or disconnected) from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me.” John 15:4 (NLT)

The Great Disconnect

 I have an affliction. I share this affliction with only 10% of the population. Getting sympathy for this affliction is rare, and hard-won when accomplished. Surely by now you’re at the edge of your seat, wondering what ails me. I’m talking, of course, about being left-handed! Oh, sure, you can laugh, but sometimes it is genuinely difficult to navigate in a world that rarely considers you. Now, just to be clear, in no way would I put myself on the same level as those born with physical or mental challenges, nor do I take those things lightly.

Besides can openers, knives, power tools and even purses, there is one right-handed object I really struggle with (insert ominous music here): the computer mouse. At my desk, I can adjust my mouse to the left, and mouse merrily away all day long with nary a thought. But if I go to someone else’s computer and use their right-handed mouse, a big disconnect happens. Suddenly, I can’t do simple things! Teaching someone how to use a program I’m familiar with, an Internet search, even something as simple as printing becomes laborious. I sit and click uselessly away until I finally run to my desk, go through the motions with my left hand, and then rush back to the right-handed station before I forget how to do it. The struggle is real!

There is another disconnect that is far more distressing though, and that is when I feel disconnected from the Lord. Unfortunately, I can’t blame that on being left-handed. Instead, I have to observe myself hanging tenuously on the vine, and do some self-evaluation. I’m not in the Word enough. I’m too distracted to say more than a hasty prayer. During worship, I may think about everything but the words my lips are proclaiming. As much as I’d love for those things to just happen for me, I had to learn that these are things I have to pursue. And even though it’s work, pursuit is a good thing—that means I’m not just doing things automatically or from habit. Just as we want those around us to purpose to have a relationship with us, God desires the same thing.

Take a moment to think on the things that cause you to feel disconnected from the Lord. Without beating yourself up, pray through these things. And remember, God loves you. Yes, you!

“Jesus, I’m sorry for the times that I allow disconnect to happen. Thank You for remaining faithful to me, even during the dry times. Thank You for loving me. Even me. In Your name I pray, Amen.”