Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Change”
Our Bible verse for today: “Yet Lord, You are our Father, we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hands.” Isaiah 64:8 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Sometimes we don’t need to change.”
Most of what we’ve considered so far this month involves bringing about some kind of change in our lives. While it’s true of all of us that there are plenty of things in each of our lives that do need to change, some things don’t.
The other day I read a magazine article written by Thom Rainer, the President of LifeWay Christian Resources. I’ve met Thom several times. He’s a nice man, warm and friendly, easy to be with. What surprised me about the article was the topic of it and what Thom confessed to in it. He wrote:
“Some people are surprised when, as CEO of a large company, I confess to being an introvert. Admittedly, it’s an odd combination. I’m required to be out front leading and speaking every week when, honestly, I’d rather be alone.”
Thom went on to explain that it’s not that he doesn’t like people – he does, it’s just that being with people, especially for an extended period of time, is emotionally and physically draining and he needs to therefore withdraw from time to time to recharge his emotional batteries. He also went on to explain that there’s nothing wrong with being an introvert, just as there’s nothing wrong with being an extrovert – it’s just how God has wired us. But it is important for us to recognize which type we are, and to realize that there are strengths and weaknesses associated with each personality type. (By the way, the population tends to be divided almost equally between introverts and extroverts).
Extroverts thrive on being with people, it energizes them. Introverts draw strength and energy in quiet solitude. Extroverts tend to be balls of fire and good at casual conversation, but they sometimes have way too much going on and they often don’t stick with a task long enough to see it through to completion. Introverts are thoughtful and tend to be good planners, but they can also sometimes seem distant and hard to connect with.
I can relate to Thom because I too am an introvert – very much so. Given the choice between attending a social event or spending the night at home with a good book, the book wins probably seven out of ten times. It’s not that I don’t like people – I do, I love them, but they wear me out too. Being with people for long periods of time is draining; and the longer the encounter goes on the harder it gets.
So there it is – I’m out of the closet. My name is Jim and I’m an introvert. Not only that, but I’m an introvert in what is commonly assumed to be an extrovert’s profession. In our culture it’s assumed that a pastor needs to be an extrovert but, many of us aren’t. There are more introverted pastors than you might think.
Being an introvert isn’t a bad thing, it’s just how God wired me. And I don’t have to change, but I do have to understand my personality type and make necessary adjustments when the occasion calls for it. Sometimes an introvert has to venture out of his comfort zone and be an extrovert for a while because that’s what the situation calls for. Likewise, sometimes the extrovert needs to back it down a couple of notches and spend some time thinking and listening instead of talking.
My point in all this is that it’s ok to simply be who God created you to be. Don’t let the expectations of others force you into a mold you weren’t meant to fit. Sometimes it’s not necessary to change.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 