Write About Now

In her comment to my last post on small groups , Fiona makes a great point about these groups being more difficult for introverts. She also mentions the January Christian Standard article on ministering to introverts which is excellent.

Coincidentally or not, when I originally drafted that post I also jotted some notes about the introvert/extrovert thing. I am an introvert and I definitely think that influences my opinions about group Bible studies. (Pet peeve alert: Introvert does not = shy. The article summarizes this common misconception nicely: Author Mandy Smith writes, “Introverts are not always shy. In fact, research has shown that introverts are often very sensitive to subtle social signals and may simply be reacting to information others just don’t see. In our culture it’s a compliment to be told you’re extroverted—it means you’re happy and sociable. On the other hand, introverts are frequently thought to be reclusive, self-centered, or anti-social. But introverts care for others no less than extroverts; they simply show it in different ways.”)

Complicating matters even more, I am a list-maker extraordinare and place a premium on my “free” time, so when the weekly meeting drags on an hour or more past the agreed-upon parameters, my frustration multiplies. Attention group leaders: when the group was supposed to end at 9:00, but isn’t ending until 9:45 because it also started an hour late, it is NOT the time to suggest twenty minutes of prayer requests (“My cousin has a friend, and her mother and one of their neighbors don’t get along, and….”).