A Soft-Serve Conversation

I wore my favorite baseball cap at the state fair yesterday! Nothing new. It’s comfortable and protects my thin-haired head from too much sun! What is interesting is how a logo on a hat can prompt such reactions especially since this team is barely playing .500 ball. I do confess that I’ve been a little hyped by how my team has just grinded out a series win with one of our historic rivals. We’ve even found a way to piece together a meager, but welcomed two-game winning streak!

Image: istockphoto.com

One reaction came as we walked past some rowdy musicians playing on a nearby stage. They were belting out an engaging rock song when I looked up and saw one of the band members gesture while singing. Then he surprised me with a shout-out “Hey, I like your hat!” I gave him the thumbs up with delight. Another fairgoer cryptically questioned as he strolled by, “Do you have a license to wear that hat?” Monique quickly replied, “Well, we won last night!” I’m still trying to figure out what all that meant!

But the one conversation that I enjoyed the most occurred with a rival fan in the dairy building over a cold cup of swirled ice cream. It was a soft-serve conversation (pun intended!) with another baseball enthusiast about the ups and downs of a long and often surprising baseball season. He, as well as I, could not believe how the leading team in our division had surged past both of our teams in the standings with a string of double-digit wins!

I know what you’re thinking, “it’s just a game!” This rival fan recognized that his favorite team and my favorite team have been dueling it out for years with considerable passion and contention at times. But on this day at the fair, we were just two baseball fans talking about the sport that we love. I closed out this conversation by acknowledging, “You’ll be seeing more “W’s” I’m sure,” and he quickly countered, “And so will you!”

Josh Hunt, an author and small group specialist, has written a new book, Disciplemaking Groups. Hunt contends that “Good conversation – interesting, soul-shaping conversation – starts when people feel heard.” He says, “Listening might be the most overlooked spiritual discipline in the church today… and yet, when listening happens… the atmosphere shifts.” (p.28). I have found that people are generally open to conversation and engagement. They want to talk if we show them kindness, respect, and a willingness to listen.

James, the brother of Jesus, was very direct in this instruction to the early church, “Understand this, my brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” (James 1:19-20, NLT). Hunt remarks that there is an incredible impact in listening, “Walls come down. Trust builds. Vulnerability rises. The Spirit moves. People walk away thinking, ‘That was different. That mattered.’”

We live in a cultural climate of anger, divisiveness, and contentious debate. Many are building walls instead of bridges. We are wary of conversation with strangers, family members, and our neighbors. We should not let fear cause us to retreat from others because God has designed us for community. It should be easy for believers to engage others in conversation that matters with so many who feel estranged and spiritually empty. Who knows what impact a simple conversation could have in daily life, if we opened our eyes and ears to those opportunities to connect others with Christ?

Let’s be “quick to listen and slow to speak” as God gives us opportunity!

Mike Keppler, retired pastor,
active churchman and
doting grandparent.
Contact: drmjkeppler@gmail.com
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