The Me Monster
The Pittsburgh Experiment
Providing a space and a time for people in the marketplace to gather, grow, and be heard in western PA.
When I started with PX 4 years ago someone gave?me a business card that said, The 12 Crucial Ingredients of a PX group.?It was a great reminder to those of us who sit around the PX table regularly.??Numbers 4-6 all hit on the idea that we come around the table to share our life and LISTEN to others share their ups and downs.?We are there to listen, not judge, advise or fix.??To be honest it's just a good reminder as a human.?I need to remind myself?of that regularly.?I can turn into a "Me-Monster."?You know, the?person who can't hear anyone else speak without saying, "Well if it were me," or "In my experience," or "In my studies," or "I read," or "One time this happened?to me..."?You get the point.?We all can turn into?a "Me- Monster" at times.
I recently was sitting with two people at an event,?one an?old friend,?one a recent, young acquaintance.?I asked my new friend if he was involved in any faith pursuit.?I'm always?grateful that many people are open to sharing what they?believe?or don't?believe.?I've?had people share?about?their spiritualism, atheism, Judaism?and Christian faith and so?on.?It's a great way to?get to know?people and build a relationship.?It's not meant to be the opening volley of a debate.?I'm not trying to set the table for me to drop my knowledge?on someone who didn't ask me to.
Well, this young man shared that he and his wife weren't of any one religion but had started visiting churches. He seemed to have a genuine joy in embarking on his journey.?But the conversation came to a screeching halt when the third gentlemen around the table quickly jumped in and lectured my new young friend on why the church he visited was not good and why his church was better and on and on. He gave a fairly detailed theological presentation?on why his church was the?right one.?When he was done our young friend looked at his phone and said?"Gotta go."?That was the end of the conversation.??
Be a conversation starter, not a conversation stopper.?Listen to learn, not to respond.?Sit with people, dont lie in wait for tem.
Beware the Me Monster.
Blessings,
Starting the next chapter of my life...................
3 年Shut up and get out of the way. Love the post!