http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/05/18/brendas-label/ travel to new places in your spiritual thought life Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:39:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/05/18/brendas-label/comment-page-1/#comment-161 jj Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:46:12 +0000 http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/?p=280#comment-161 It tough to break that personal "bubble" between strangers. Rewarding, but tough. My boss loves to be on a crowded elevator and talks to everyone, trying to pull everyone into a conversation even if it's just common civilities. Folks think she's an alien from another planet! Kindness, a smile, a cheerful hello and an earnest "how ya doin'" are deeply ingrained in our Oklahoma landscape. When I've traveled where that's not the norm, at first people seem put out by the gesture, but once engaged they seem to be uplifted (at least I am). But I admit, when it's someone outside my comfort zone it's tough and I don't always put myself out there. It tough to break that personal “bubble” between strangers. Rewarding, but tough. My boss loves to be on a crowded elevator and talks to everyone, trying to pull everyone into a conversation even if it’s just common civilities. Folks think she’s an alien from another planet!
Kindness, a smile, a cheerful hello and an earnest “how ya doin’” are deeply ingrained in our Oklahoma landscape. When I’ve traveled where that’s not the norm, at first people seem put out by the gesture, but once engaged they seem to be uplifted (at least I am). But I admit, when it’s someone outside my comfort zone it’s tough and I don’t always put myself out there.

]]> http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/05/18/brendas-label/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Craig Spinks Tue, 26 May 2009 14:44:39 +0000 http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/?p=280#comment-34 My problem is less about labels and more about just stopping to notice somebody. A while back I started counting seemingly meaningless conversations with random people as acts of kindness. Sometimes the corporately required "how are you today?" from a checkout person reminds me to reciprocate the question...but I try to make it more personal to let them know that I actually want to know (and I really do...I have a sense of curiosity). The other day at my favorite burrito place (Big City Burrito) I asked the guy making my burrito if he had anything exciting going on. He responded by telling me about an upcoming visit with his family who he hasn't seen in a while and about how he loves Idaho's mountains. It was more than just a canned answer, but nothing too deep or personal. Just like Myra, I noticed someone. I believe these little things count in God's kingdom, so I'm trying to be a little more intentional (but not forced) in noticing people more often. My problem is less about labels and more about just stopping to notice somebody. A while back I started counting seemingly meaningless conversations with random people as acts of kindness. Sometimes the corporately required “how are you today?” from a checkout person reminds me to reciprocate the question…but I try to make it more personal to let them know that I actually want to know (and I really do…I have a sense of curiosity). The other day at my favorite burrito place (Big City Burrito) I asked the guy making my burrito if he had anything exciting going on. He responded by telling me about an upcoming visit with his family who he hasn’t seen in a while and about how he loves Idaho’s mountains. It was more than just a canned answer, but nothing too deep or personal. Just like Myra, I noticed someone. I believe these little things count in God’s kingdom, so I’m trying to be a little more intentional (but not forced) in noticing people more often.

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