Created to Be Connected

In this episode of the Created to Be podcast, Bethany Pigott is joined by her husband, Justin, to discuss the theme of season two: "Created to Be: Connected." Bethany and Justin define what they mean by the term "connected" and discuss what it looked like for them to step into connection with God and others as athletes at Mississippi State.

Book Mentioned in the Podcast:
"Building Bounce: How to Grow Emotional Resilience"
by Marcus Warner and Stefanie Hinman

CONNECT WITH HAILSTATE FCA:

Instagram: hailstatefca_
Website: www.msufca.org
Donate: Staff Development Fund

Transcript

(0:05) Coaches and athletes are often driven by an unquenchable thirst to push the limits of what (0:10) is achievable. Can we win more games? Throw farther? Jump higher? Run faster? But what if (0:16) the goal is not to pursue limits, but rather to live in a state where limits are irrelevant? (0:21) Is it possible that the current emphasis in sports on being the best and outperforming (0:26) competition is inferior to what could be experienced? We believe the answer is a (0:34) recognize and respond to God's activity in our lives. What if there is an entirely different (0:38) way to interact with God's presence while competing? Can we recognize and respond to (0:43) God in real time on the court or field? The created to be podcast will interview coaches, (0:48) athletes, and FCA staff to discuss the ways they see God and interact with his activity in their (0:53) day-to-day lives.

The point is that God didn't create coaches and athletes to do. He created them (0:59) to be. Welcome to the created to be podcast.

I'm your host, Bethany Pigott. And I'm joined today (1:08) by a very familiar guest to me. This is my husband, Justin Pigott.

Can you say hello, (1:12) Justin? Hello. I'm so happy. Justin is here with me today.

We're going to talk about (1:16) our new theme this year, created to be connected. So this, this podcast last year, we started (1:22) just to introduce the theme of created to be. And so often in college athletics, (1:26) we don't really think about being so much because we're doing so many things.

(1:31) But in FCA, we really wanted to talk about what does it mean to be an athlete who's created to (1:36) be in the image and likeness of God, and then flow from that place and that doing would take (1:40) care of itself. So it's kind of a challenge, I think, in this world of athletics to think like (1:45) that. But we're just processing that and exploring that on this podcast.

And so this year, the focus (1:51) and the theme is really more about being connected. The idea that we were created to be connected to (1:57) God, connected to each other and connected to ourselves, even and just know the works that God (2:03) is doing in our own heart and life, and be able to express those things. So I just want to start (2:08) off by just kind of defining what we mean by connected or connections, or connecting to other (2:14) people, just in realizing that God created connection to be the deepest longing of our soul (2:21) to be known by God and by other people.

He made us to be loving people who bond to others in love. (2:29) Unfortunately, because we have bad experiences, and we live in a fallen world, there's different (2:33) things that we experience that we might feel trapped or traumas that we couldn't escape or (2:38) and so fear actually became what was bonding between us and other relationships. And so that (2:44) creates a barrier where we don't want to bond anymore and joy, but we bond in fear.

And so (2:49) because we bond in fear, we'll avoid bonding with other people, we'll avoid connecting with God, if (2:55) we fear God, and we're scared of him or think he's done something to us to punish us or things like (3:01) that. And then we'll also fear other people, because if they've hurt me, and I start seeing (3:05) those same patterns again in other relationships, or even maybe church, then I don't want to go back (3:10) into that space. So a fear bond is essentially a relationship driven by the need to avoid pain, (3:16) rather than increasing the joy of connection, which is unfortunate, because since God created us (3:21) to be connected, and for connection, then we actually avoid the good stuff about life (3:27) and growing in joy, which was our design.

And that's how we were created to be. So we want to (3:32) just focus on we were created to be connected. This was God's original intention.

And we're (3:37) gonna we're gonna flesh some things out on this podcast over the next few episodes, just about (3:41) what that means, like, what are the dynamics of connection? How do I, how do I more press (3:46) into connection and what that actually means in my life? What does that look like in stories? How (3:51) are people doing this, but then also the things that are barriers to connection. So we're going (3:57) to get into all that not all on this, this one episode, but as we journey over the next few (4:02) episodes together. So we really want to start with our story.

Justin, I don't know that we've really (4:07) had a chance to share much with the athletes here about our story. Some people know this, (4:16) some people don't, but that we met through FCA. We came from different upbringings and backgrounds, (4:21) and we play different sports.

But we really met through FCA. And so we just want to talk about (4:28) how the significance of our connection with God and other people and even learning about who God (4:34) made us to be and being aware of ourselves really developed through the ministry of FCA. (4:39) And since we lead that ministry now, we're talking about connection.

I just feel like (4:42) it's important for people to know the impact. We're not just speaking from this place of, (4:49) you know, like, hypothetically, FCA should help you in this way. But like, we lived this experience (4:55) in college.

And it was a really, it was a catalyst to how we would then once we were married and go (5:00) into our jobs or go into, you know, when we started having kids, like we continued to press (5:05) into this as a significant thing to be connected to God, others and self. But that fire was really (5:10) lit whenever we were in FCA in college. And that gave us a really starting point to where we could (5:16) build on.

So I would love to hear you share about how you came to state kind of what your upbringing (5:23) was with relationship with God and how you found FCA. And I can remind you of some of those things, (5:28) but just kind of start with like how you got to state. And then your upbringing and things like (5:33) that.

Yeah, always wanted to be at Mississippi State. My dad was an alum. And I just grew up (5:40) knowing about Mississippi State baseball, football, all of it.

And Coach Polk was here and he was a (5:46) legend. And so I just always wanted to play here and be a part of that. Thankfully, had the (5:50) opportunity to do that.

I feel like nowadays I wouldn't with the way the games changed so much. (5:54) And so quickly, but got a chance to come here. And yeah, I didn't really know who I was when I (6:02) got here.

I had made a profession of faith, got baptized at 14. And that was significant. (6:11) But trying to figure out what a relationship with God was like was very foreign.

I would just read (6:16) my Bible occasionally because I was told to. But really, I just didn't want to tick my dad off. (6:23) And I think that's kind of the way the perspective of being with the Lord and a relationship with the (6:28) Lord was like for me.

And it really wasn't until I got here in that first Sunday of not having like (6:36) just the choice to go. Well, I don't have to go to church. I'm not going with the family, (6:41) but I am.

I'm going to. And so I went to a church here locally and met some amazing people there. (6:47) And that kind of started the journey for me really when I got here.

And so I didn't really know what (6:52) I was getting into, by any means. I think you were talking about FCA and how we met and the (6:57) significance of FCA in our lives. I had no idea where this would lead and even relationally and (7:03) what God would unlock in me.

But I knew this was the right thing I needed to do. And my faith (7:10) definitely became my own faith. And it wasn't my parents' faith in my time here.

(7:14) What was your understanding of when we throw around this saying, when we're talking about (7:20) coming to know Christ, we say that we have a relationship with Christ. How do you feel like (7:25) you felt like before you came to college? What that concept, what did that mean to you? Or did (7:29) it feel kind of ambiguous? You didn't know. And then kind of like, what did that start to look (7:34) like when you were in college? How did you start to understand that? Well, a lot of it was just (7:38) just do the right thing.

I think that's what it was. Just do the right thing. Be nice to people (7:43) and do things with excellence.

So that translated for me (7:49) in the way I worked and how I did things. Relationally, yes, I want to treat people well. (7:57) But then when it started to get into spending more time with the Lord and discovering more about (8:02) myself, because he's the one that unlocks those things in me and shows me who I am and what (8:08) giftings I have and what brings so much life and joy to me outside of the things that I do.

(8:15) And just being with him, all those things are getting more and more unlocked. And so then I (8:18) started to see, man, this isn't just making sure I'm doing the right thing. This is actually (8:25) there is a oneness to be had in bringing him into my life to a point where he is the one I consult (8:33) and commune.

I didn't know much about that word communion then, but just to communicate and to (8:38) talk to with on a regular basis and that he's in all the things that I'm doing, not just this one (8:46) little area. And I had my baseball time and my God time. It was opening up the space for him to (8:52) be in every part.

And well, he's always been in every part. I just didn't realize it. So the (8:57) perspective changed.

And that comes from being around others and attending things. And we'll (9:03) talk about that more, too. Yeah.

So I think that one thing that became really helpful for me (9:09) within the past, like this summer, I read a book called Building Bounce, and I'll link it in the (9:13) podcast description. But they just talked about how relationships are actually attachments. And (9:19) so Christianity is actually about forming an attachment with Jesus and then spending the rest (9:24) of your life going deeper in your walk with him.

So John 17 3 says, now this is eternal life that (9:29) they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you've sent. So that Greek word to know is (9:35) actually a relational term, and it means it's a certain amount of intimacy. And John 15 alludes to (9:40) that as well as far as abiding in Christ.

So from this perspective, the entire Christian experience (9:46) is about connection. It's about connection to God, connection to others. And then at the end of (9:52) Matthew 22, 36 through 40, it says that to love others as you love yourself.

So it is about even (9:57) connecting with knowing who you are in Christ. And so what we do is that we we are building, (10:05) we connect to Jesus through a relational attachment, and then we have the rest of our (10:09) lives to make that attachment, that connection stronger. And so that's what you've been describing (10:15) as you came to college and you begin to understand different things about your relationship with God.

(10:20) And then, oh, he's in every part of my story, like not just on Sundays or not just on Wednesdays (10:25) or not just with this person or that person, but like he's everywhere. I have an opportunity to (10:29) connect with God and grow the strength of this attachment and connection all the time. (10:35) There's no limit on that.

And so anyways, that it becomes less about doing and about all the (10:41) things because all the things like Bible study, attending church, serve the attached, serve to (10:47) strengthen the attachment, serve to strengthen the connection. It's all about the relational (10:51) connection. And these things support that.

So for me growing up, I grew up in a Christian home, (10:57) was taught Jesus all the time. Like my parents did a great job teaching us about Jesus. I remember my (11:02) dad writing on a whiteboard stories for me and my sisters, like stick figures, like explaining (11:07) things.

It was great, had great Bible teachers. And I'm not going to pinpoint any one thing that (11:12) made me feel this way, but what I began to realize was there was a discrepancy, not necessarily all (11:18) the like, not in one place. I'm just saying my, my outlook and being in these different places where (11:23) I was being taught about Jesus was that relationally, I wasn't always experiencing the same (11:28) things that I was being taught about how Jesus, what his countenance is like towards us.

So it (11:35) would make sense when I was sitting in the pews of church, but then I was looking for the confirmation (11:40) of that, like the experience of that in the relationships around me. And so I just had to (11:45) be really honest with myself of like, there's something that I don't know that can be experienced (11:51) relationally with God and with other people, there's a disconnect. And so I'm going to mention (11:56) some of these resources that have helped me kind of bridge that gap because so much of it has been (12:02) bridged through understanding we were built for joy and built for connection.

And so I'll link a (12:08) lot of those in the podcast description, if people want to like go down that rabbit hole. (12:11) But when I came to college, I was a walk-on on the basketball team, always wanted to play (12:16) division one sports at a like power five type school, got the opportunity to walk on at Mississippi (12:22) state. I was, I didn't know what I was doing here.

I didn't know anybody. I'm from Texas, (12:28) far from home. But one thing I did know was the ministry of FCA.

I had been involved with FCA (12:34) since seventh grade. So when the first athlete meeting happened, which I was describing to an (12:38) athlete this week, we all used to be, we all used to go to the hump and they would file us in there (12:45) and then they would bring everybody in there instead of these individual team meetings. (12:49) So you would hear from Brackey Brett and compliance, and you would hear from the athletic (12:52) director and all the various people that would serve athletics.

And that included Josh Gilreath, (12:58) who was the FCA director at the time. And so I, you know, I was like, Oh, great. FCA is here.

(13:04) I need to go get involved there. And long story short is that I was invited to come to a leadership (13:10) meeting and I was a freshman walk-on on the basketball team, not knowing what the heck I (13:14) was doing here. And then I'm in this room with juniors and seniors.

I was scared to death. I (13:19) was like, what am I doing here? Why am I here? And I was so intimidated. And Josh expected us to (13:28) share like what was going on in our heart, like, and what God was doing as he also challenged us (13:34) to read scripture and do some journaling.

So we would have to come to leadership prepared (13:38) with something to share. And that's, that just terrified me. I mean, I would step into that a (13:44) little bit and I would share, cause I knew that was expected, but like my voice would be shaky.

(13:48) I would want to cry. Like it was just so scary to me. But that was really when I had to really push (13:54) myself because I wanted to be part of this group.

I saw people were genuine in their relationship (13:59) with God and growing. And that was really the first time in my life. I was like, wow, there's (14:03) other people that are athletes like me who want to grow and mature.

I will use that word mature (14:10) in their faith and in Christ. And so in hearing him, obeying him, walking this thing out in college (14:15) athletics. And so I wanted to be there cause I knew that it would help me grow.

But it was also (14:20) kind of a scary thing. But as we, as I continued to engage with FCA, then you and I met through (14:26) a mutual friend. And then we continued to grow together.

And then we just continued as we (14:31) moved on towards marriage. And then when we went to, we moved to Tampa when we were first married (14:36) and we began to look for communities that were similar to what we had experienced in college (14:43) within FCA because we knew how much we had grown. And the evidence of that growth was like, (14:48) I could do things that were like more mature relationally with people than I could when I (14:55) first started.

Like I could listen to people and I could encourage people and I could pray for them. (15:00) And so that connection was, that connection was grown. That maturity was grown through (15:05) connecting with God by being encouraged to get in the word and journal, but then also connection with (15:10) other people, hearing what people were learning, then that would like help me grow and learn.

(15:15) So when did you feel like you realized the importance of intentionally building (15:21) connection? Like you had mentioned that you would start noticing you weren't yourself and people, (15:26) when people, when baseball wasn't good, people could see through all of that. And so you realized (15:31) that was really important. Like if I, if I put myself in this position, then I can more, more (15:37) be like myself because I'm around people that know the real me and can call me back to that.

(15:41) So if you want to kind of talk on that, like how you realized this is really important to be (15:45) connected. Yeah, I think some of this was definitely before Bethany time, because I was (15:51) here a couple of years before you. And it was the church route for me.

Connecting at the, the local (15:57) church was big. And I would, I remember the different Bible studies I would go to the meals, (16:03) just going to eat a cheap meal, a really good meal. And the multi-generational connections in (16:09) that church of getting to know people, there was a prayer time that we would do before one of those (16:14) meals.

And I remember going into a room, this was one of those moments, like, what are we doing? (16:17) Going to a room, a bunch of different guys, along with the college director in there, (16:22) and we would just pray. And I know that sounds kind of weird, but we would just pray. And there (16:27) was no order to it.

You would just kind of bounce around. If you remember who's next to you when it's (16:31) dark and you would just pray and you would pour your heart out to the Lord and, and hear other (16:36) people do that too. And so you would kind of just kind of hear what's going on in their heart.

And so (16:41) I didn't know what I was doing, but in praying out loud and in talking to Lord this way, (16:46) and then people calling out things in me of like, Hey, I love hearing your heart when you pray. And (16:50) this was really awesome when you said this and start calling these things out and giving me (16:54) permission to actually become more of who's in there. I didn't know that was in there.

(16:59) And so that's, those spaces were giving me, they asked me to lead a Bible study. One time I was (17:03) like, I don't know what the heck I'm doing here. Just do this.

I did it. They called out some gifts (17:08) in me there. So there were things that started happening.

And then eventually I went to FCA. (17:13) And then that's when I met you as well. And, uh, you know, meet this freshman girl with her voice (17:18) cracking and nervous as she was sharing.

Um, but there was something in you that was different and, (17:23) and I met others there. And, and so that just propelled me further. And just in those (17:27) connections, I started to realize that more and more of just in order for me to become who I (17:32) meant to be beyond anything that I do, I've got to be around people like this.

And, and so for an (17:41) extrovert, that was easier for me, but I still had to step into vulnerability and to give myself (17:48) into those spaces, not just show up, but I needed to engage. Um, and so, yeah, uh, I just started (17:55) realizing it early. And then the FCA just, I think it was fuel on the fire for that to continue it (17:59) and to bring that more into the athletic space for me.

Yeah, that's so good. And we're going to take (18:04) a quick break on the other side of this. We're going to talk about just being available as we (18:08) wrap up this podcast and how significant just making yourself available helps you grow in (18:15) connection and also just helps you mature as a person relationally and in your faith.

So we'll (18:20) be right back. Living out your faith in college can be a challenge, let alone in your sport, (18:25) but it doesn't have to be. Come join FCA and the Crane Theater Room in the Showerfield House on (18:30) Monday nights at 7 PM to fellowship with other athletes and encounter God together.

(18:35) We look forward to seeing you there. Welcome back. So Justin, as we wrap up this podcast, (18:43) I would really like for you to talk more about how you made yourself available because I know (18:48) oftentimes, you know, there's, there's opportunities all around us to grow in faith, (18:53) especially in college.

There's incredible campus ministries. There are churches that have (18:57) incredible college ministries. So it's, and then we have Bible resources like on our, on our phones, (19:04) like at our fingertips.

And so it's not the lack of opportunity, but sometimes we just, we just (19:11) kind of like, I don't know that I want to go do that. And so we really, in this college age, (19:15) we have to make these decisions where we set our mind to, no, I'm going to just make myself (19:20) available. No, we can't do every single thing, but we continually put ourselves in this position (19:26) to hear from God and to be touched by Him and to interact with other people so that we can grow.

(19:31) And so I would just like for you to share some of the ways that you did that. I know you've (19:35) mentioned to me, like y'all did some serving projects, I think at your church, and then you (19:38) spoke with FCA, prayed with the college group. So just speak into some of those things that you (19:42) shared with me.

Yeah, I think, I mean, I just would schedule it and I would have to make a point of (19:48) yes, there's church on Sunday and then these things were happening. And I tried to be a part (19:52) of as many of those as I could in the baseball schedule. And so the meals or the prayer or the (19:58) other Bible study that we would have.

And yeah, and even the going on the retreat. So I'd never (20:05) really done the retreat thing before because I always had baseball stuff back when I was younger. (20:09) And so going on a college retreat and getting to know more of the guys there (20:12) and getting to serve in the kitchen for meals or whatever it may be.

And (20:16) I just remember specifically in many of those moments of just being available and going, (20:21) that there were things, specifically my college director, but others would too, (20:26) call out of me. I mean, I remember being on the retreat and my college director would be like, (20:31) Justin, I just love the way you serve people. And he just encouraged me in that.

And it really gave (20:36) me a lot of life to go, I do, I do love doing that. But it almost like gave me permission to (20:42) be like, yes, exercise that gift, Justin. It is a gift to everybody when you operate there.

(20:48) I didn't realize it at the time, you know, and then even in the prayer of just like, (20:52) hey, I love hearing your heart or even in just some of the other activities that I didn't realize (20:58) that's who I was. And so I started to get of like, the more I'm available, the more I choose to go, (21:06) the more I am becoming myself. Now there is a disconnect of like, you can be so event driven (21:11) and you're going to this, to this, to this, to this, that you're not spending any time (21:15) with the Lord yourself.

You're growing, you're gaining some things, but the depth of you is (21:21) maybe missing. And so there was that balance for me. I had to really make sure I was spending time (21:26) there with the Lord in quiet.

And that's still something that I'm developing today, you know. (21:34) But yeah, those spaces were so huge for me. Yeah.

And I think that's really the word for (21:40) my college time of just discovering who I was, which is available. I just had to make myself (21:44) available. That was the one thing.

I mean, God, God does what God does and just started (21:50) transforming me in the process. Yeah. I've had moments like that too, where (21:54) there's so much self-doubt that can creep in when we're trying, especially if we're trying to live (21:58) from this place.

Like if we're focusing on what we're doing, especially if we're operating from (22:03) that place, then for sure we like chase things or like we want, we then we begin to like rely (22:08) on other people complimenting us or telling us things. But this is what you're talking about (22:12) is different because you, you are operating. You start having these safe places where you can (22:17) be actually who you feel like in your heart.

You are like, you are a servant. You are someone (22:23) who deeply cares for somebody. And so when you start to display like this love for people, (22:28) and then you have other people looking on and saying, that's, that's Justin.

And I want to (22:33) call that out and affirm, that's who you are. They're not just flattering you, which sometimes (22:37) that's nice, you know, but like, this is about the core of like, you weren't necessarily trying, (22:42) you were just being who God created you to be. And you need to know that.

And they don't always (22:45) use all that language. But, you know, I just wanted to say that if you, if whoever's listening, (22:50) if you want to live this life of living from a place of being, that that's your focus, (22:55) that you cannot skip connection. Like you can't, you can, you can do things and not be connected (23:02) to people and you can develop on your own.

But if you want to become who God created you to be, (23:08) you, you can't skip this step. This is the step that you have to connect with other people. And (23:14) you have to be in relationship with people that are more mature than you, because that's actually (23:19) how God wired our brains to mature.

Like if Justin has a skill that I don't have, and I'm in (23:26) relationship with him, my brain, if it, if it watches him will actually copy that skill. And (23:31) now I can mature faster because I am around somebody who's stronger in an area that I'm weak. (23:36) And so that connection, and that happens when we are with God in, in his word, we read about (23:41) how Jesus lived his life.

And we say, well, that's not how I would respond to someone who's in that (23:46) mess, but Jesus displays for me how, so I learned from him and now I can grow in maturity in that (23:53) way. And so I'm, because of that attachment, I can grow because of the attachment and maturity (23:57) of others. I can grow.

And this is how Ephesians four talks about. We grow into the, the head, (24:04) who is Christ. Like we begin to look like him.

Um, and it happens. It doesn't happen just on (24:09) our own. Like, Hey, I'm just gonna, I'm just going to be who I am.

And I'm going to learn (24:13) things on my own. Like there was a teacher that I had in, in grad school who he assigned a crazy (24:19) amount of memory work that we had to do. And he had one person that said, no, I want to memorize (24:24) all this on my own.

I don't want to be in a group. And at the end of the semester, when you have to (24:29) memorize over a like 140 pieces, I think of information, and he's going to give you 10 (24:33) questions or something, you got to answer this stuff. Those who were in their groups that split (24:38) up the memory work and research things and shared them with each other were more successful, (24:43) all made A's.

And this guy that went alone made a C and it's because he just refused to do, (24:50) to be part of the group. Um, and there's things that keep us from wanting to connect with other (24:55) people. And we're going to talk about that in future podcasts.

Uh, so come back and listen (24:59) to that because those are very real things. But the problem is if we continue in that space, (25:04) while we're also praying and asking the Lord, I want to be who you made me to be. (25:09) I desire that you're going to be in this conflict and you're never going to get there.

(25:13) Um, if you're trying to go alone. So Justin, you want to add something to that? (25:16) Yeah, this is an area that we really have to break through. Um, I think it was easier for us.

And (25:21) granted, yes, it was easier for us to go and connect and do all that. We did not have it (25:25) all at our phone. We did not have all that content in front of us, um, constantly.

(25:30) Cause it's a false connection. (25:31) It is a false connection and there's great content out there. Amazing content, (25:35) things that I never would have thought like the access, the information's amazing, (25:39) but we think we get enough on that.

And there's just so much that God does when you're in a group. (25:44) And that's why, and even you throw COVID in the mix. There's that of like, well, (25:48) we just stayed home and then we watched the service and you get used to just doing your (25:52) own thing and managing your own time.

And so we become very self-sufficient and man, (25:59) we are missing deeply impactful relational skills that God uses, um, man, to grow us (26:08) and to show us who we are. It's great that we know these things and we have great content, (26:12) but that stuff is fleshed out with people in conversations as we serve, as we worship all of (26:19) that. And that's what we hope to bring back here.

You know, if we're going to be like, Hey, back in (26:24) my day, it was like this. If there's one thing that we're going to really fight to bring back (26:28) is to hopefully teach this college group here, man, I need to give myself to community, teach (26:35) them what community actually is. And, um, and man, I just believe there's going to be a love (26:40) that's going to come out of this group.

That's going to be really special. And, um, and one that (26:44) I think they're going to see many years later to go, wow, I didn't realize what I was experiencing. (26:49) And, um, and now they're out doing that with their families and connecting in different places.

And (26:53) they want to go find that community. They want to go connect. They want to go create it because (26:56) they realize what it did for them.

And again, Jesus is the center of all that. He's the one (27:01) transforming, um, community is just a piece. Yeah.

So I just want to leave people with a (27:07) step of something to look for. It's not like go out today and go do this, but just kind of in (27:11) your life, a healthy goal is to have three people that are upstream from you, people that have (27:17) strengths that you lack, and then also having three people downstream from you that benefit from (27:22) your strength. So here's what happens whenever that those dynamics are in our life.

When we (27:27) offer strength to people who need what we have, it's just an important part of connecting, receiving (27:32) what others have to offer, keeps us humble and teachable and bearable to others. But if we focus (27:37) on offering our strengths and refuse to receive strength from others, we tend towards selfishness (27:43) and narcissism. And so we need to know, we need to be humble enough to say, I'm not mature.

Like (27:49) I have things to work on, but not then go like, okay, well, I'm going to be self-sufficient and (27:53) go work on this. Say, actually there's gotta be people in my life, or if they're not asked God (27:58) to send them to your life that have strengths that I don't have, or you might start noticing (28:02) that about maybe some older people in your church, or maybe it's an upperclassman or something like (28:07) that. And just doing what you can to be in their circle, to learn from them, to see that you don't (28:12) even have to be a close relationship, honestly, just observing what they're doing and seeing parts (28:17) of their life will help you grow.

But then also, man, whenever you can connect with somebody who's (28:23) weak, it makes you just see life different. It makes you slow down. It makes you realize like, (28:30) I need to slow down to help other people and not just be so focused on myself.

So that's it. For (28:35) all the practical people out there, you might want something like to leave this podcast with three (28:39) people upstream from you, strengths you lack, three people downstream from you, benefit from your (28:43) strengths. So Justin, thanks for joining the podcast today.

We'll continue on these conversations (28:49) about Created To Be Connected. So listeners, make sure to come back. Looking forward to it.

(28:55) Thanks for listening to the Created To Be podcast. To learn more about Mississippi State FCA, (29:00) visit www.msufca.org and follow us on Instagram at hellstatefca underscore. If you would like to (29:09) become a financial partner, visit www.fca.org slash donate to sow into the work God is doing (29:16) through FCA at Mississippi State.