Here’s an observation from more than thirty years in parish ministry: everybody likes to talk about themselves, for the most part, and most people like to tell their story. Very few people have the chance to tell their story, however, because other people keep interrupting them to tell their story!
But when you listen and hear a person’s story, here’s what you learn: you learn their world view. The way they view the world, the way they view good things and bad things, and tragedy, and history, and the future, their hopes and dreams — you learn their world view. You’ll also discover there is often a gap — something in their story that doesn’t make sense. Gaps, by the way, are oftentimes the doorway into a talk about faith.
Everyone would love to fill the gap. Everybody wants to understand how the 
world works, why certain things happen, and why certain things don’t happen.
And eventually, there will be something in their story that connects or intersects with your story. Oftentimes, between that intersection, and the gap in their story, there is an on-ramp to a conversation about faith, and a conversation about God. I encourage you this week to learn to listen to other people’s stories, and make the most out of that relationship. You will be amazed at the blessings that may result.
