The Focus of Our Next Conversations

The Olympic Games of 2024 have completed their events and held their closing ceremony. Over 10,000 athletes from over 200 nations or Olympic Committees were present in Paris. They lived near each other, ate together, and even congratulated competitors from other countries. This was all true despite some very different and varied cultures, languages, and political views. After watching gifted athletes compete for a victor's medal and hearing remarkable stories of how athletes overcame various obstacles, the question now is what will replace our Olympic topics of conversation?

Of course the default answers could be politics, candidates, world conflicts, or financial upheavals. While all of these topics are on our daily news programs and fill social media, each of these result in arguments and name calling as people take sides. The reality is that while these default topics seem so important, none of them will make a lasting difference in our world. History reveals that the promises and hopes generated as one person is elected, as one war ends, or as one debt or bill is paid, disappointment follows in short order.

How do we find a way to begin life-changing conversations with people that are in our spheres of influence or with whom we occasionally cross paths. Maybe we begin by being more aware of the people around us and their needs. I read recently that an African proverb states "an empty stomach has no ears." Simply put a person who is consistently hungry has no desire to listen to what you say until that person is physically fed. Another way of saying this in a more general or broader way is that acts of kindness can open doors for life-changing conversations. An act of kindness in the name of Jesus could give the opportunity to share the message of Jesus with another person. This could result in a radical change in a person's viewpoint of life, in a person's consideration of other people, and in a person's clarity of truth. Consider the words of Jesus in John 14:6.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes

to the Father except through me."

An act of kindness may be simply a good deed toward another person. However, it could be the path to moving from default conversations that often end in arguments to one that could truly make a difference in a person's life. What could you do this week in genuine kindness that would benefit another person? That one act may open the door to a conversation at work, at school, in the neighborhood, and among family members that results in a life-changing conversation about the One who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Have a great week doing an act of kindness and sharing a life-changing conversation.