Do we open up conversations with folks at church, or do we close them down? Seth Godin offers this reflection on conversations in businesses which is perhaps also instructive for those of us in the church as well:
Open conversations (or close them)
From Seth Godin’s blog
A guy walks into a shop that sells ties. He’s opened the conversation by walking in.
Salesman says, “can I help you?”
The conversation is now closed. The prospect can politely say, “no thanks, just looking.”
Consider the alternative: “That’s a [insert adjective here] tie you’re wearing, sir. Where did you buy it?”
Conversation is now open. Attention has been paid, a rapport can be built. They can talk about ties. And good taste.
Or consider a patron at a fancy restaurant. He was served an old piece of fish, something hardly worth the place’s reputation. On the way out, he says to the chef,
“It must be hard to get great fish on Mondays. I’m afraid the filet I was served had turned.”