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Fresh Thoughts for Discussion and Growth
Healthy conversation has fallen by the wayside of a culture that is digitally engrossed in its own, private but pseudo-connected world.
Holy conversation is even more rare in the daily interactions most of us have.
As a collective people, we have forgotten how to talk - and even more importantly - how to listen to one another, face-to-face.
We have lost the sacred and transforming gift of holding space for each other, and of using words as a vehicle to stir our hearts toward honorable change.
But I believe we can change that, and I want to invite you to be a part of that change.
Each week on Mondays, I will send out a fresh thought for discussion and growth, the aim being just that: that you will pick up the thought or question and take it back to the people you are in relationship with. The challenge I extend to you is to hold healthy, honorable, and holy conversations with each other around the shared topic.
The rules of engagement for these conversations are simple, but critical to uphold:
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Each person in the discussion MUST have an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings about the question - to respond honestly.
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While one person is speaking, the other(s) must listen only.
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No interrupting.
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No judging or trying to correct each other's responses.
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The listener(s) must respond by repeating, in their own words, what the speaker has shared, confirming that they have correctly understood.
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Questions are allowed, if they serve the purpose of understanding the speaker further.
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After all parties have had a chance to share and respond to one another, the conversation should end with prayer, as each person asks God to help them understand and embrace His mind about the question/topic of discussion.
I pray that these thought-provoking conversation starters will begin to spark new fires in our lives that encourage us back toward the life-giving connections we were meant to have, and the change they were meant to bring to our world.
May our mouths and minds become again instruments in the hand of God for bringing forth healing and hope and fresh, new life!