Well, we sort of moved on to other things like haircuts, glaucoma and the new Mercedes Benz Stadium. I am sure there was some talk of patients we share, family, drones and a bunch of other things. We wrapped up and headed to the cash register where I paid my standard $5.34 plus a tip, and he some other amount. We talked about a couple of other things as we drifted out the door and across the parking lot to our side-by-side cars; he hopped into his Mercedes, I into my Tacoma and that was that.
What about religion?
Over the years I have noticed that conversations die when spiritual things are raised. I have spent a lot of time reading and studying the Holy Scriptures, and the lessons learned there have shaped my outlook. The Bible clearly speaks of the importance of choices in this life effecting the next. That makes me sensitive to comments in conversations that fix on temporary and not eternal.
Sometimes I will try to draw these points into conversations. Other times I simply want to discuss topics of spiritual import regardless of what I’ve observed. Well, it is those attempts that make many conversations wither. They are real “conversation killers.”
This morning while walking around, praying, thinking and drinking coffee I was struck by the parallel I experienced in political talk yesterday. I was the one who was drying up the conversation though. I think that if I’d been talking to me I would have felt that the conversation sure dwindled the more we talked about politics. Politics was a “conversation killer.”
Presumptions, presumptions
I have been prone to presume apathy or indifference when spiritual matters kill conversation or result in a stout changing of the subject: “how ’bout my team!” I bet they are…sometimes. Other times, though, I bet folks just don’t find themselves challenged like I am. For some this may be lack of interest which has its own implications. For others, though, there may be a discomfort in talking about doctrine or other matters. Their angst is not necessarily a rejecting of things spiritual. It may simply be a mismatches in personality or interest. When a conversation dies it does not necessary imply indifference or apathy, rejection or even lack of concern. It may be, but not necessarily.
While I had a tough time carrying a conversation on political matters I am not apathetic about them. I think about them too and want good results from the presidency, the media, congress, the Supreme Court and other municipal matters. I mainly don’t ponder them enough to feel competent carrying such conversations to great lengths.
The parallels of this in matters spiritual matters was a great lesson to come across. What I need to do is be on the lookout for opportunities that God gives to speak of spiritual matters his way. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said that the apostles would be his witnesses WHEN the Holy Spirit came upon them. God is the doer of things in this world. I should be true to the things that I know and am good at and interested in all the while being non-judgmental and ready to do God’s bidding come what may.
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