Hey there Party People,This week you get a real treat! A guest post by an amazing fellow named Josh, not me, but probably cooler. This guy is an amazing musician, a great conversationalist, friend, leader, visionary, creative thinker, artist, and all around great fellow. The following are his thoughts. You should read them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For all who do not know me, my name is Josh Orebaugh. For all of you who already do know me, please disregard the previous sentence in hopes that I have not lost your reading interests due to saying something you might have already known. Keep with me here.
I am an easy going twenty-four year old man whose life seems to be non-stop, hopping from one event, person, or priority to the next. I am not saying that I do not have “free” time, I just often fill it with other opportunities, or obligations. Even in this small, but ever growing city called Wichita, I have been able to have a consistently busy life similar to those in the bustling streets of New York City or Los Angeles. Who would’ve ever thought?
Here’s the deal, I have been blessed with a great opportunity to be an investor with a terrific organization of people. A group of people that have been investing in me, allowing me to turn around and invest in others. Because of these people, I have grown as a leader and want to encourage others to do the same. That is why I am writing this. I know what you are thinking, “Okay, here comes the sales pitch.”--- No! That’s not my goal at all, please keep reading. I promise that I am not selling anything, but rather sharing my thoughts.
See, I care about other people and enjoy hearing life stories! Even more than that, I enjoy being a part of someone’s life and taking the time to share, laugh, and live life with them. But as of lately, I cannot help notice something wrong in my approach to new friendships. Something that has been bothering me, and I hope it will bother you as well.
I call it “The Hand Off.”
Something that I have been guilty of for years, but am just now realizing is a problem. Here’s an example.
I feel that I naturally want to be associated in a conversation, but only if the topics are within the boundaries of my knowledge, or expertise. I find myself having an insincere desire to learn unless it will benefit me, and really only me. I’ll still learn about another person, but I will not concentrate so much on the details of who they are. I just gather enough facts to be able to tell myself that “I now know them.” I’ll even go as far as introducing another person who understands the topic of discussion relating to the “newbie“, in hopes that I can eventually step away.
Now I know what you are thinking. “Did he just do what I think he just did?” Yep! The Hand Off.
*(I am not a jerk, and that this does not happen all the time)
We all can probably look back in our lives, or even in our past week and see that we do this quite often without thinking about it. We are not intentional with meeting people for where they are at, or who they are. Instead, we just want to meet others like ourselves. We have a tendency to push away sincerity when we only stay within the boundaries of what we know. And if you are like me, that is not very much.
Let’s dare to step out and start approaching others who might not share our likes, dislikes, educational background, work ethic, skills, up-bringing, addictions (healthy or non healthy), tastes, and
interests.
I dare you to learn about others with sincerity. Allow relationships to build, and lives to be changed.
In Christ, Josh Orebaugh
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