We are never the same. When we say things like you haven’t changed what we actually mean is that any actual change we take as negligible or see enough of what we’re used to not to bother about anything different. In reality as each new day brings new challenges and even if the responses are based on previous patterns of behaviour, we are still being gently shifted and changed.
I’m not asking. I’m not guessing. It’s not a stab in the dark, it’s as factual as night follows day.
Sometimes, however, the nature of the changes hit at a point in life where on reflection there is definitely something different about how things are now compared to how they were before.
I write all that because I had to check myself recently. If I pride myself on anything, it’s being a rather private kind of guy. I’m not all that open and would not class myself as an extrovert. I know I have extrovert tendencies and can ‘perform’ when called upon, but my preference and inclination is towards being in myself. Coming out of my shell has been a tortuous process and I know what I prefer between being all gregarious and outgoing against withdrawn and reflective. That’s why I like my reading and that’s why my group of close friends is not that large at all.
I’ve preferred the role of the listener to the talker and enjoy little better than engaging with someone and finding out more about who they are seeking to understand them and then get God’s insight on them in the hope of responding appropriately whether that’s with a word of wisdom or the golden expression of silent assent.
That’s been my default position. I thought I stayed in that realm the majority of the time. As I considered my time so far at my new place of work, though, it would appear from the comments of customers and colleagues that this is not the first impression they have of me. Should I go into any of my famous sullen, contemplative silences I am told that I don’t seem myself. I’m told it’s not like my usual bouncy, chatty, wacky persona and concern is expressed. I never knew I was bouncy, chatty or wacky. OK wacky I can understand. Strange, I’ve got. Weird, I take on board. The other words though I’ve never really associated with me and I wouldn’t class myself as being. As I said I know I’ve got a presentational style and often in conversations when I am animated I can get carried away and go on for a while, but I was of the impression that these were rare forays and not the norm of Christopher Dryden. Just goes to show what I know.
It’s just like God as well to highlight some things about me on life’s journey that I don’t always appreciate. These characteristics can of course rub people up the wrong way, but in their proper place they can be of great help and turn situations from potentially drab and boring to lively and constructive. I do love that and especially with the people I serve it is so important that I don’t
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
dmcd
Life With CD 