More From Patrick Klingaman

Today’s devotional passage from James 1:2-8 instructs us to consider it pure joy when we “face trials of many kinds” because the testing of our faith develops perseverance, which leads us to become more mature and complete. Since dog agility competitions are also called trials, I found it easier to spot spiritual lessons from participating in that sport.

In each agility run, we faced one obstacle after another in ever-changing configurations—more than 100 during a typical weekend competition. Although life’s trials may also seem like they arrive one after another, those situations usually have more serious consequences and linger much longer than a one-minute dash with my dog.

Developing and maintaining friendships has long been an area where my efforts seem most easily sidetracked.  Besides Kathy, my wife, best friend, and soulmate for more than 35 years, my track record with relationships has been terrible. As an extreme introvert, taking initiative in my interactions with others has never been easy. In most cases, I would rather give a speech to a roomful of strangers than mingle with them.

Life changes like long-distance moves and work-from-home employment provided additional obstacles to help derail any efforts to connect with others. At first, the COVID-19 lockdown seemed like the ultimate barrier, but God helped me discover new opportunities.

Back then, it took great effort to pry myself away from excessive onscreen following of the world’s chaos to spend quiet time in God’s presence. I prayed for those who were sick, dying, or struggling with social isolation. I also reflected on my inability to keep connected with others over the years, confessing those instances when I failed to prioritize people over projects.

My extroverted wife provided inspiration to confront our social limitations as she spontaneously called and texted people from all over the neighborhood and nation. I eventually found my path, using social media to try to reconnect with friends from the past, including one living a thousand miles away whom I hadn’t talked to in more than 25 years. I continue to spend several hours a month on the phone with that not-so-new friend.

More locally, we transformed a patch of dead grass in our front yard into patio space, a simple step that has made us much more visible and accessible to our neighbors. Although I have much further to go, I’ve managed to emerge from my time of social isolation with more growing relationships and social contact than before.

To help make my new relationship-building efforts more intentional, plus to invite the input and participation of others, I started working on something I call The Regathering Project. Its purpose is to tout the critical importance of gathering in any way in an increasingly disconnected world.

Those of us who follow Christ (even introverts like me) don’t need to feel inadequate in reaching out to others. Since we carry the Holy Spirit within us, when we interact with others we participate in a powerful ministry of presence—not just ours, but God’s as well. We may not always recognize that presence in ourselves, but others frequently do.

To go deeper into the topic of embracing obstacles, click on “Study Questions” found on this page’s sidebar. You can also share your own experiences by leaving a comment below. To learn more about The Regathering Project, visit www.regatheringproject.com.