Conversation starters, incomplete thoughts, and links from Adam S. McHugh, author of Introverts in the Church

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Extending the Conversation

Michelle George has written a series of posts about introverts, relationships and the Church. They're very well written and make up a nice introduction to the topic. Plus, she's from Australia, which is cool. The posts are:

1. Do you know an introvert?
2. Introvert...extrovert...shy?
3. Can introverts and extroverts coexist?
4. What can God do with an introvert?
5. Churches and introverts.

This post will take you to the introduction of the series and Michelle's personal narrative.
Posted by Adam S. McHugh at 6:09 AM

4 comments:

  1. What can God do with an introvert? I thought I'd drop a line and let you know what He's doing with me these days. My elderly neighbor has suddenly been moved into an assisted living place. It was the right decision, expedited because of her many ongoing physical problems, but a huge shock to her system - leaving her feeling out of control and with many loose ends to clear up and little physical ability to do anything.

    She has virtually no family, so I've been helping her and visiting her daily during this transition time to get her settled and provide a sense of assurance that she won't be left to deal with all this alone.

    After reading the blog articles you linked to I realized one reason why I'm so happy to do this for her (aside from the fact that my heart goes out to her) is that for an introvert this form of service FITS.

    It's just me, in her empty house, finding things she needs at the new place. I like the quiet of her old empty house. Then I drive over to the retirement home, which is spacious, orderly and quiet. I walk through quiet halls to get to her new apartment. And then we quietly sort things out, I fetch and carry, put things away, help her with getting her phones going - stuff like that.

    She's an introvert too, which is why I've only gotten to know her in these last few years as she has increasingly needed assistance. But it makes her pleasant company and as I gear up to get ready to go over there, one thing I don't have to steel myself for is an onslaught of words.

    Hope you're doing well!
    -Kathy
    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for sharing that story, Kathy. Many introverts would agree that behind-the-scenes service is something that comes very natural for them, and even though it's often undervalued in the Church, it's a remarkable, indispensable ministry.
    ReplyDelete

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Claremont, CA, United States
Adam S. McHugh is the author of Introverts in the Church: Finding Our Place in an Extroverted Culture. He is an ordained Presbyterian minister, spiritual director, chaplain, speaker, and retreat leader. He has been published in The Washington Post, The Christian Century, RELEVANT Magazine, Psychology Today, and Leadership Journal, among other publications. He is a graduate of Claremont McKenna College and Princeton Theological Seminary. On February 28, 2012 he will serve as guest chaplain in the U.S. House of Representatives. He lives in Claremont, CA.

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