Opening Up Conversations

We had a wedding recently and we use an area in the basement for changing. It is roped off and curtains are hung for privacy. Those curtains are temporary and so they are pinned together and the old-fashioned clothes pegs keep them hanging in place. When I was taking them down, I took the clothes pegs off and put them in my pocket. After the first curtain was down, I put the clothes pegs in a bag for storage. Then I took the next curtain down... put the clothes pegs in the bag. Then the third curtain. After I had put everything away. I ended up at a store. I reached in my pocket to get my wallet, only to find out there were a bunch of clothes pegs in that same pocket. That’ll start a conversation. For once I was at a loss for words. I guess there is a whimsical song that speaks of sunshine in our pocket as a symbol of happiness. I don’t know if I will do this, but I am seriously contemplating painting the clothes pegs into beautiful colors and then putting a picture of the sun on one side and writing sunshine on another. The thought is if I got in a conversation at a checkout, or with a person, etc. I could clip one of those pegs on something near them and simply say that I wanted to share some sunshine with them... maybe putting a smile on their face or giving them something to think about. I haven’t quite figured out how to make it cute and not creepy. Behind my thinking is simply a way of opening up conversations. That sort of thing gets remembered and can be a catalyst for further conversations, which hopefully will deepen. The point is that we need to find ways to open conversations with others other than, “Nice day, isn’t it?” or political observations. We need to connect with people, for until we want to know them, they don’t want to know what we have to share. Tracks are great to start someone thinking, but it doesn’t help with the questions raised. We are called to make disciples, not just to greet them in passing. Making disciples requires investing time and caring for their eternity. It takes faithful prayer. It takes patience. Is there someone God is calling you to invest in? Is there a way that you can begin a new conversation? Pray that God would prepare your heart for such an opportunity. Father God, open our eyes to see the people that are hurting or hungering. Use us to begin that vital conversation. Amen