I hate small talk. Even though I’m an extrovert, those first-time conversations with people I don’t know well or don’t know at all often feel flat, shallow and, frankly, difficult. I don’t hate meeting new people – I actually really like it, but I hate the getting-to-know-you stage.
Too bad we can’t skip all that stuff, right?
I’ve tried to sometimes, especially in work settings. I don’t want to put myself out there over and over, I’d rather just get to the bottom of the work we have to do so I have made work relationships much more of a “what can you do for me/what can I do for you” exchange than truly engaging with other people.
As I was on a road trip today with hours by myself in the car, my mind immediately went to what podcast or sermon should I listen to? What lesson do I need to learn? What is something in my life I need to be doing that I can process over the next five hours in the car? What should I write about for the blog post that is due once I arrive – ha!
Then I saw the New York City skyline and once past it, saw the changing leaves in Connecticut and the Holy Spirit gently nudged me to just enjoy it. Turn on some worship music and spend time with God just getting to know him better. He loves cities; He is the origin of beauty and nature.
I have a tendency to treat Him much more like a colleague at arm’s length in some ways: What is it you want me to do? What do I need to correct? What is the lesson here?
His Spirit helped me today to remember to just spend time with Him. Sing. Enjoy the actual view out the window of creation. Walk around New Haven, Connecticut, and enjoy some pizza. Talk with Him and wonder about what work He’s doing at that church on the corner in the middle of Yale’s campus.
Sometimes it’s good to realize that I am way past the initial getting-to-know-you stage with God, but at the same time, there is still so much more I have yet to know about Him.
Most of the time I have been willing to stick with it and push past those initial conversations with other people to get past just small talk; it has been worth it. And the more I’ve been willing to let people in, the deeper relationships have become.
If you’re at the awkward small talk phase of your relationship with God or if you’ve known Him for years but maybe have been treating Him like a colleague instead of a friend, hopefully my road trip today can encourage you to just spend some time getting to know Him.
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
Originally from Georgia, Mary Beth Gombita is a lover of sweet tea, a proud Georgia Bulldog and an avid music fan. She works in public relations, running her own communications consulting business from home. Mary Beth and her husband, Stephen, have two young sons. She is currently the editor of our Willowdale Women blog.