I recently spent some time with a lady who has a dark storm cloud over her head. When a person talks with her, they automatically are put on defense. Here is a portion of our conversation:
Me: Hey, I was alongside of you on Wells Road today.
She: You were? When?
Me: We were both waiting for the train but I was further back from you then. Later I was alongside but didn't get your attention.
She: I just hate those people who go 35 miles an hour in a 45 zone!
Me: I wasn't in that big of a hurry, hope I wasn't holding anyone up
She: You know how it is on that road
Me: I stopped at Chick-Fil-A to get a free bowl of soup. Justin gave me a card to use for it
She: I can't eat this late at night, I'd have indigestion
(A little one let loose with a shriek as his family tried to quiet him)
She: That kid needs a pop in the mouth!
Me: Yes, that will certainly quiet him...
She: Well, did your parents let you do that?
Me: I don't remember, that was a long time ago (trying to lighten the mood)
She: You know who else I haven't seen in a while? Mary.
Me: I saw her at a funeral here a couple months back
She: I know she's working as a food demonstrator in a store
Me: I'll have to reach out to her and encourage her to come. I'm friends with her on Facebook and she checks in on my postings now and again.
She: I am NOT involved with any social media AT ALL
Me: Well, I am so I can reach out to Mary to see how she's doing and encourage her.
She: Well, (dangling conversation)
She: You know who else I haven't seen in a while? Mary.
Me: I saw her at a funeral here a couple months back
She: I know she's working as a food demonstrator in a store
Me: I'll have to reach out to her and encourage her to come. I'm friends with her on Facebook and she checks in on my postings now and again.
She: I am NOT involved with any social media AT ALL
Me: Well, I am so I can reach out to Mary to see how she's doing and encourage her.
She: Well, (dangling conversation)
Don't we all know someone who is like this, someone who struggles to see even a little bit of brightness in life? In conversation, jumping from subject to subject to find a cause for which to be alarmed, usually from the news. Militant attitude about most everything instead of weighing and measuring things; rather than calmly discussing pros and cons...and so on. Wow, it really leaves a bad feeling after spending time in that realm of upset. Not good for a person's spirit, to hear it, or to have to live in that fashion. There is nothing I can do to change this lady, as long as I've known her, it's been this way. I wonder if she'd come to our Monday Bible study...
