Every one of us is a work in progress, and one of the greatest factors in the building of our lives is the influence of other people upon us. It takes a village to raise a child, they say, and from childhood onward, our lives will be touched by hundreds, perhaps thousands of people -- and in turn, our own lives will impact just as many in one way or another.
Some people lay the foundation of our lives. These are usually family -- parents, grandparents, siblings, perhaps aunts, uncles, and cousins, or even our earliest teachers. From before we could remember, these people taught us who we were, what life was about, what the world was like, and what we could count on and believe. Those foundations, once set, are extremely difficult to shake by any developments that may come later. If they are firm and correct, the life to be built upon them will be sound, but if faulty, much reworking will be needed if that life is not to end up in shambles.
Other people establish the structure of our lives. Peers, teachers, mentors, and friends all contribute to the shaping of who we will be. They help us build walls -- walls that determine the boundaries of our horizons, walls that separate one area of our lives from another, walls that decide how we will appear to others from the outside. These walls may be carefully built as wise safeguards against the cruel forces of the world, forming a welcoming space for guests, or they may become strongholds, impenetrable to anything that would dare to enter. The walls in our lives may either give us freedom or form our prison.
Meanwhile, still others develop the substance in our lives. Such people may not always seem as closely connected with us, and may not even be people we know personally -- role models, leaders, or even authors. But perhaps without realizing it, these are the people who fill in the gaps between the walls, giving us the insulation that secures our identity, the plumbing that channels our thoughts, the wiring that turns on our light bulbs and makes us tick. This is our source of potential for animation and productivity, but also for annoying little problems that may develop into destructive disasters.
Finally, some people bring decoration into our lives. Steadfast friends, a spouse, and children become fixtures that serve to embellish our existence. They add color, character and comfort to what is already established. They can help us appreciate and enjoy what has been accomplished, even while attending to upkeep, cleaning and tidying, or perhaps even occasional remodeling. Decorations maximize potential -- or obliterate it. The fixtures in our lives can bring glory and delight to the humblest domain, or else become dusty, disheveled blights on the most majestic mansion.
We can all recognize the building of others into our lives. While we may be eternally grateful for some of our shaping, other poor craftsmanship may take years to reconstruct. And we too have a part to play in the building of others around us, whether we offer foundation, structure, substance, or decoration. Whatever your role, do you build others up?
Therefore encourage one another
and build each other up,
just as in fact you are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11