Who Is On Your Radar Screen
A radar screen (Plan Position indicator or PPI) shows you a 360° view of what is within your sphere of influence. You and I are the rotating antenna in the center of our respective screen. As you think about engaging in the public fray are you familiar with the contents (people and things) on your radar screen? Can you easily name them? When I answer those questions for myself, I realize even if I know who/what is there, I’m sometimes aiming time/resources/band-width either beyond my sphere or in the black spaces. I live with little to no margin these days (a conversation for another day) so I am not at all comfortable wasting precious energy only to miss the mark. That just seems particularly lame, and wholly avoidable.
I know who my primary people are. I know the names of the people who I less often but consistently engage with. They are fixtures on my radar screen as I am on theirs. We live within one another’s sphere of influence and we know it. At the same time I know that at any moment a stranger can show up__ like two weeks ago I met a lady in a toll booth on the New Jersey turnpike__ not a scenario primed for meaningful engagement. Even so, the Holy Spirit rotated my radar antenna and there she was. My car-mates and I had 45 seconds with her, enough time to encourage her, give her a gift and see a beautiful smile appear (and pay our toll). It was sincerely meaningful for all of us. She was on and then off the “screen” in a matter of minutes.
The radar screen provides nothing if it doesn’t have a set of eyes on it intent on responding to what is there. Practically, that means I’m committed to being present in my actual life and minimizing distractions as much as possible. The Holy Spirit is ready to draw my attention to opportunities to meaningfully engage with others regardless of whether I know them or not. He is eager to instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; to counsel me with His eye upon me, (see Psalm 32:8). I’m asking the Lord how I’m doing with all of this. I’m so happy to have Him over my shoulder whispering ““This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left”, (see Isaiah 30:21).
May the Lord bless you as you seek to engage so that you’re able to take the very best care of those on your radar. – Anne
2 Comments
Anonymous
Anne, Years ago, I read that Mother Teresa was confronted by a reporter who asked, “Out of the thousands of people who need your help, how do you know who you are supposed to serve.” She replied, “I help the one who is in front of me.”
I love your example of the 360 degree sphere of influence, as it is very similar. In my own career, I think of these as divine appointments with each person that the Lord puts in front of me as a divine appointment.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I loved seeing you and John at PFR.
Keep striving to be mistaken for Jesus, Allan
Anne Barbour
Thank you, Allen. SO good to see you and your beautiful wife as well. Love the Mother Teresa quote. Simple but not if you’re straining your neck to see beyond the immediate.