Where Do You Sit?
How many of us have read the first few pages of a new book, watched a new movie, or actually experienced being the new kid in the lunch room? The kid stands there with a sparsely filled lunch tray, looking around, trying to figure out where they are going to sit. Do they sit with the preppies, the jocks, the drama click, the chorale, the nerds, or the empty table in the corner?
How many of you have been sitting in your comfort zone and seen that person standing in the middle of the lunch room trying to figure things out? What do you do? This was the scenario presented in sharing time on Sunday. Of course, the primary prepared answer was...
Well, Sunday night, I heard a story of someone being placed in a similar situation. They stood there wondering where they were going to sit, where they were going to feel welcome, and then why they were even there. I started wondering why those who had answered in primary, Sunday school, priesthood, or any other place were not acting upon their previous comment/commitment. Then I wondered how many people have found themselves in a similar situation and then decided that the choice to be there and have this internal struggle, the effort it would take to fit in, find a comfort zone, or just feel welcome was not worth it.
This concerns me. We need to follow through on that primary answer, we need to make that person feel welcome if nothing else. Extending the hand of friendship may not turn into a best friend, but at least they will walk away knowing that someone cares. Those of you who have given up on the effort, need to get up off the couch, bed, sofa, chair, or what ever and go out and try again. Even if no one stand up and invites you to sit with them.
Maybe you just need to ask if you can sit with them. We all need to be anxiously engaged in doing. We can't just lock ourselves in a room and forget about the world. We need to be in the world. Not part of it, but in it.
So do something. Step out of the comfort zone. You don't have to go way out of the zone, but you do need to stand on the other side of the zone line. This will only expand your zone. Then you take another step.
How many of you have been sitting in your comfort zone and seen that person standing in the middle of the lunch room trying to figure things out? What do you do? This was the scenario presented in sharing time on Sunday. Of course, the primary prepared answer was...
Well, Sunday night, I heard a story of someone being placed in a similar situation. They stood there wondering where they were going to sit, where they were going to feel welcome, and then why they were even there. I started wondering why those who had answered in primary, Sunday school, priesthood, or any other place were not acting upon their previous comment/commitment. Then I wondered how many people have found themselves in a similar situation and then decided that the choice to be there and have this internal struggle, the effort it would take to fit in, find a comfort zone, or just feel welcome was not worth it.
This concerns me. We need to follow through on that primary answer, we need to make that person feel welcome if nothing else. Extending the hand of friendship may not turn into a best friend, but at least they will walk away knowing that someone cares. Those of you who have given up on the effort, need to get up off the couch, bed, sofa, chair, or what ever and go out and try again. Even if no one stand up and invites you to sit with them.
Maybe you just need to ask if you can sit with them. We all need to be anxiously engaged in doing. We can't just lock ourselves in a room and forget about the world. We need to be in the world. Not part of it, but in it.
So do something. Step out of the comfort zone. You don't have to go way out of the zone, but you do need to stand on the other side of the zone line. This will only expand your zone. Then you take another step.
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