A Life Pattern of an Insider - From the Detroit Metro Faith@Work Team
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances.” King Solomon - Proverbs 25:11
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Apostle Paul - Colossians 4:6
We have taken little initiatives, some of which have resulted in growing friendships. We have prayed for these new friends and have served them.
We are getting to know each other better. How? By asking questions, gentle questions. And listening. Listening, listening, listening. Have you noticed how rare it is to be asked questions and then to actually be listened to? And when you are, how good it feels? Being really interested in the other person in ways they feel are like salt and makes them thirsty for more of the same.
“Listening is the first rule of good conversation.” Larry King
So, instead of asking, “How are you?” as simply a greeting, how about asking and waiting for an answer as if you really want to know? It’s amazing what you can learn about a person just by listening.
Oh, and resist the impulse to draw the conversation to yourself, your experience or your story about what the other person is saying. Don’t do it! Keep listening. Good listening honors the other person.
Over the course of conversations, you will have your opportunity to tell about yourself a bit and they will come to see (or suspect!) that your faith is important to you. You can’t help but say so, hopefully in ways that invite them to “come and see” as Philip said to Nathaniel (John 1:45-46).
In time, your conversations will go deeper and head towards Jesus and the Bible. You’ll see!