Your Neighborhood Sphere

A Safe Space

We all need a safe space where we can explore what lies beyond our brokenness and limitations. Even if that space is available for only moments at a time, if it’s truly a safe space, it’s sacred because it also points us to the safe people who love and care about us.

I am grateful for my broken journey. Through it, I’ve discovered my passion, purpose, and identity as a coach to encourage others to feed their Good Wolf and discover their uniqueness. I am grateful for the opportunity to remind my “athletes-in-training” that their dignity is theirs for the taking. I am thankful for the ability to establish vulnerability-based trust with them so I can call them out, catch them when they have nothing left, and lift them when they’re ready to be strong.

Together, we gain unity of mind and spirit because I seek to stand in their shoes to learn about their experiences, aim to get in their mind to understand their viewpoint, and strive to put myself in their place to imagine what they’re feeling. In these safe spaces, they find their feet and freedom and are transformed to be a safe space for someone else. My teacher is Jesus Christ. His humanity allowed Him to have human experiences, which in turn, gave Him the ability to empathize. With practice, we all can learn to lead like Jesus, the ultimate Servant Leader.

In these safe spaces where they practice, transition occurs. Transition is a phase where some things are ending that they’re not going to go back to and new things are beginning that they’re going to permanently change. Things such as how they think, feel, and identify themselves as well as the sphere of influence they’re going to impact. Transition is the process of convergence of their ideal alignment with their ultimate calling. Transition is the process through which they end one season of life and become equipped to enter a fresh season. Through this transition, the leadership style of Jesus is manifested through them, and they are placed in a position of influence within the smallest viable audience. We call this audience their neighborhood sphere.

Everybody has a neighborhood sphere of influence, but unfortunately, not everyone discovers it. Everybody has an equal opportunity to seek it, but not everyone finds it. I am called to hold the hand of those who want to embark on their quest. Eventually, they will be able to see and say, “For this reason, I was born. For this cause, I came into the world.“

The moment someone chooses to seek their neighborhood sphere they are a success, no matter what happens. Why? Because success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal and because they are attempting something in faith, they continually progress to that end and cannot be considered a failure. All they needed was a safe space in which to experiment.

Hospitality

Hospitality is defined as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers. On an elemental level, it’s simply when one person opens their heart to another. It’s when we, as humans, show interest in someone else. It’s when we invest the time and interest to get to know them.

There are many ways to be hospitable. In business, you can treat all customers and prospective customers in a friendly and welcoming manner. You can make them feel valued and special. The most successful businesses figure out how to do this over the long haul.

On a personal level, you can open your home to people. I have friends who always seem to have company. They have a very welcoming spirit and never seem to turn anyone away. They have meals together and host quality opportunities for fellowship.

The thing about genuine hospitality is that it’s not about you, the host, but it starts with you. It’s really about your guest, and you need to have the awareness and humility to subordinate your interests to those of your guest. You need to have a servant’s mindset.

Personally, for me, that means serving others in God’s name. One way in which I do that is with the complement to this story, the Neighborly Love podcast. The purpose of the podcast is to create a safe space where we can get to know God’s heart and mind through my guest. It’s about them feeling valued and understood. It’s about depositing money in our relational bank. It’s about me serving them so their voice can be heard, which hopefully touches the hearts of the listeners. If only one person is touched by their story, then it’s worth it.

The podcast is one way I attempt to lean into the power of empathy. Like any skill, it can be mastered, and while I have a long way to go to developing it as a superpower, I am committed to it. After all, nothing is more hospitable than empathy.

If you’ve enjoyed this story and are interested in subscribing to the Neighborly Love podcast, then kindly visit the Neighborly Love podcast page to subscribe wherever you enjoy podcasts. I am grateful for you.