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What is Your Center?
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We all have a center of some kind. We know it’s supposed to be God. But if we are not careful, God can become somewhat abstract and theoretical to us. The concrete things that we can see and touch have a tendency to take over, despite our best intentions. In a world brimming with distractions, pressing responsibilities, and the endless hum of digital connections, we have to ask this question over and over again: “What is our center?”
By definition, the center is the point around which everything else revolves. It is the fulcrum, the heart, the core. In terms of our lives, the center is the hub around which the spokes revolve. It encapsulates our essence – our guiding principles, values, beliefs, and nature. It is the steady beacon that guides us in a tempest, the internal compass that directs our decisions and paths. Dr. Buckingham defined it as what is most important to us.
He also mentioned some of the substitutes for God. For some it is pleasing people. The people-pleaser is all consumed with whether other people like us and approve. We might replay conversations or interactions over and over again, thirsting for some sign that they like us or are not upset with us.
For others it can be education. We can do all we can to appear smart and never let any blind spots show. We can get degree after degree. We can tune in to all the latest podcasts, read the latest substack, and Google/ChatGPT ourselves into oblivion.
For still others it is money or power. One person needs to have more and more. Then they are inhibited around people who have more than they do. Another person needs to be in control. There can be nothing that is not accounted for and nailed down. Uncertainty of any kind is the enemy. Or maybe no one else can have more power.
Ways to Determine Your Center
- Prayer, Reflection, and Introspection: Regular self-examination, whether through meditation, journaling, or quiet contemplation, can reveal what truly centers you.
- Accounting for our Time: Who or what we spend the most time with is a strong indicator of what our default priorities are. Are you spending regular time with Christ in prayer, reading of the Scriptures, and worshiping in community? If you are not, it is doubtful that Christ is your center.
- Disconnect to Reconnect: Digital detoxes, even if short-lived, can provide clarity. The noise of external voices often drowns out our inner one. Taking a break can bring our true self to the forefront.
- Seek Feedback from Others: Those closest to you often see aspects of you that you might overlook. Engage in deep conversations. Ask trusted friends or family what values and principles they see guiding your actions.
- Seek Broadly in the Community of Faith: Exposure to believers (and non-believers) who belong to other churches, other cultures, and who have quite different experiences can shed broader light on not only your blind spots but the blind spots of your specific Christian community.
With Christ as our center, we find:
- Stability: Life's challenges are inevitable. “We have an anchor, that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll.” Cf. Heb. 6:19.
- Purpose and Direction: Every decision, action, and reaction must be aligned with Christ, making our lives purposeful and directional. “Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Cf. Col. 3:17.
- Authenticity: With clarity about your core, you are empowered to be genuine in your interactions and choices.
- Enhanced Well-being: Research consistently highlights the correlation between living a life aligned with one’s values and mental well-being. What greater well-being could there be than to be aligned with the Creator of the universe?
Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Col. 3:17 (NIV)
Identifying your center is only the beginning. It requires continuous nurturing. This means constant prayer and reflection, re-evaluating our priorities, commitments, and daily practices, bringing every thought captive under the Lordship of Christ ( 2 Cor. 10:5). Then we also guard against external pressures that seek to shift us off course. Asking "What is your center?" is an invitation — to introspection, authenticity, and ultimately, a richer, more grounded life in Christ.