Vol. 17 No. 37 | September 14, 2015
You have probably been in one of those situations with a group of friends, family, or co-workers when the conversation shifts from the usual surface talk to something more serious. There may be a pause, or one of those awkward silences when people begin to look at the clock to see if it is twenty minutes past or twenty minutes before the hour.
It is awkward because you know it is the perfect time to raise the conversation from the ordinary to the extraordinary. You can go back to “Did you see that game?” or you can say something like “Hey, can I share something I read in the Gospel of John the other day?” If you choose the first you will get more of the same. If you choose the latter you may get that uncomfortable silent reaction which might be translated, “Did he really just say that?”
These awkward uncomfortable moments probably come and go more often than we realize because we are so accustomed to allowing the opportunities to pass. It is so easy to keep the conversation light and fluffy so that no one feels judged, is put on the spot, or made to feel the slightest bit uneasy. So, we talk about the weather. We talk about sports. We talk about work. We talk about the children. We may even talk about our church, what is good, what is bad, what we like, and especially we do not like.
We justify and rationalize our action or lack of action by saying we do not want to be seen as too serious or too religious or too rigid or too holy or to this or too that. We justify and rationalize by quoting the one passage we remember from Ecclesiastes: “Do not be over righteous, neither be over-wise — why destroy yourself?” (7:16). We justify and rationalize then we beat ourselves up for missing the opportunity.
Maybe there is a better way. Peter said this, “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15,19, NIV)
“Always be prepared.” Maybe we shy away from this passage because we assume to always be prepared to give an answer means we have all the answers. That is not the point of the passage. We are to always be prepared to give an answer for the hope that we have. There is an assumption: we have hope. Since we have hope, be ready to tell people. Since we have hope, and since we have a reason for our hope, why not break the silence sometimes by sharing the hope that we have. Since we have hope, and since we have a reason for our hope, why not transform the conversation from the mundane to the spiritual.
Will it be awkward? Yes, at times. Will be strange? Yes, at times. Will some people wish you would have let conversation stay on the surface? Yes, some will. Will it be worth the awkwardness? Yes. Will it change the dynamic of your group? Yes. Will it make the conversation be more memorable and meaningful. Absolutely!
When you find yourself squirming in your seat because you sense that awkward moment is approaching, be ready. Think about something you have been reading (something worth sharing). Be ready to share it. Then, share it. The awkwardness will pass.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.