Listen For the Answers

Written for a young man who was struggling with his introversion. He thought there was something "wrong" with him. He didn't realize yet that it isn't a handicap, it's a gift!

I have been chief among the introverts all my life.

All that you mentioned I have experienced, and more.

 

I thought for a time that there was nothing more than loneliness and pain for me for the rest of my life.

A time or two I wondered who would care if I just folded my tent and went home. Who would even notice I was gone? Maybe Mom and Dad, no one else.
But I was not willing to give up. You know that feeling. You know there is something more for you, somewhere, somehow.
Call it stubbornness, call it tenacity. We introverts have it deep within us. Deeper and harder to reach than in our extroverted counterparts, but stronger too.

 

I finally recognized that my life as I knew it was simply not all I was meant to be. There were things that burned deeply within me that were screaming to get out.

 

We have talents that no extrovert could imagine.

We have a passion for life that they only dream of. No, they don't even know it exists!

We have gifts that stir our souls every day.

No one knows they are there but you and me.

 

I have been there at your side my friend; I've stood in your shoes. The pathway we walk as introverts may be rugged and narrow, but it is rutted and worn from those who have gone before us when the way was far less traveled.

Take a look within yourself this weekend. Consider what you want to do for the rest of the world that so desperately needs your help.

 

Is it you who insults and bullies? No!

Is it you who won't reach out to the quiet kid? No.

Is it you who is blinded by all that is flickering and buzzing around in this fast paced world? No.

Does your mind fly from one thing to the next without ever acknowledging the simple and quiet things of beauty? No!

 

It's others who do that. Not you and me.

 

We see the subtle changes in the shadows on the mountainside as the Sun moves across the sky.

We smell the faint fragrance of a tiny flower others would simply trample. 

We think, and consider, and imagine.

Others only respond to their environment.

We see, and taste, and smell, and know what can be.

 

We are the ones who consider, and dream, and invent, and design, and write, and bring tears of joy to others.

We weep for the beauty of a piece of music.

We must touch and absorb a work of art.

We experience life. Others just live in it.

We need them, don't get me wrong! But we are needed more!

Our talents are needed more!

Our vision is needed more!

So look inside.

Do you want to write? Take up your pen.

Do you want to create a work of art that will bring others to tears?Take up your brush!

 

Do you want to help them understand what they could have been? Show them what you are.

I have learned that I can stand before a room full of people and have them screaming with laughter at my humor. And with my next sentence have them weeping in acknowledgement of some thought or situation. I've done it. And not just once. I have another series of meetings to present next week that I volunteered to lead. Every morning next week the conference room will be all mine for an hour with seventy plus people each day. Managers, engineers, craftsmen, project leads, superintendents. And only me up front.

Scare you? Me too... every time I've done it. Many, many times now. But people always shake my hand and pat me on the back and tell me they wish they could do that. They have no idea what it took to get up there. But when it's over I feel absolutely alive.
I'll be wringing wet with sweat and exhausted when I'm finished, but they don't know that. All they know is they had a blast and want to know when I can do it again.

How did I get there? Stubborn tenacity!

I have suffered through too many presentations from flighty and disconnected extroverts.

I love extroverts, I do. But I knew I could do better. I just had to get up and do it!

At church I can kneel down with someone in prayer and bond in complete unity with them in God's spirit for a few moments. I know exactly what they are feeling and what they need. If only for a moment, we are one before Him. And I receive as much as they do. More.
I can look into the eyes of someone and see their hope, their pain, and their apprehension. Not I really, rather God in me. He knows my heart and He knew what He had for me to do.

I'm just man. No one special. Nothing really. But isn't that the perfect vessel? One that will allow something precious or valuable to dwell within? To keep the contents safe until it is needed?

There is a place for you. There is something only you can do and be. There is someone for you to walk with.

You have great worth. Do not waste that. It is rare and precious.

Seek your gift. Seek God. Get quiet, as only we introverts can, and listen for the answers.

Reviews

[J]

This is an incredible service you did for this young man. Being this shy is so painful and takes so much courage to push through. I believe you gave him an idea of just what he may be capable of. Often, that's all it takes ~ someone offering a hand. It's pretty gratifying to realize that conquering our own demons can actually inspire another. Thank you for posting this. Fine job. ~j

[Sara Muschweck]

It is as if you were speaking only to me. Thank you, your gift of words, thoughts, feelings are so comforting. Giving comfort to those in need is truly a path you travel well. Thank you.

[SJ Roebling]

What a work this is! I so enjoyed reading this, and when I got to the part, "We weep for the beauty of a piece of music.
We must touch and absorb a work of art.
We experience life.
Others just live in it", I got gooseflesh.
I want to thank you for the heartfelt comment on my Humankind poem. Two of my sisters just got back from Alaska and they told me it reminded them of the Earth before Man....
I will come see your world before I leave this place.

[AK]

Thank you Alice. I hadn't considered that that line might be interpreted in the way you described.
What I was feeling and trying to convey with "And I receive as much as they do. More" was (and is) that whatever benefit or blessings others might experience has nothing to do with me. In fact, when this happens, I receive as much as they might receive through any help I may offer. I guess the "more" just speaks to my personal amazement that God could reach my tiny little brain with the thought that someone else could use a little help. If I receive any "more" it is only through my gratitude to Him that He can reach me and that He takes the time to talk with me. I am nothing. If anyone receives any help, it is only from Him. I truly am nothing.
It is incredibly humbling to feel a great need to pray with someone and then have God bless in such a sweet and powerful way through His spirit. Just the knowlege that one was able to hear, and then had the faith to act upon that small, still voice... the confirmation and approving touch from Him is enough to keep me on my knees for hours.
Among the little group I serve God with, none are "more" or "less" than anyone else. We have each, over the years, been the one with great need AND the one offering the help.
One of the most difficult things for me to learn as an introvert was to have the faith to believe that feeling (or that burden) to go to someone's side and offer prayer. Scripture says to "lay hands suddenly on no man". It terms of prayer and support that simply means to be sure of what you're feeling before you march yourself up to someone and presume to offer them your support though prayer. There is no better way to snatch someone right smack out of the spirit than to not be in the spirit yourself when you touch them in prayer. I've given and received that from both perspectives and you never forget when it was "you" who assumed the burden and not God giving it to you. On the other hand, when God puts something on your heart to do for Him, it is always rewarding to follow through.
I'm sorry I've rambled on like this. It's just important to me, especially in this particular piece, that no one gets the impression that I think I am "more" or "greater" than anyone else. As I've said, I am truly nothing.

So I guess the "more" I meant is the affirmation from God that I was paying attention and followed through. And in doing so, was able to make a little bit of a difference for someone else.

[w1n9s]

This is one of my favourite poems on this website. It's long but not one word is out of place.
To tell the truth, I don't quite agree on the message in this stanza:

At church I can kneel down with someone in prayer and bond in complete unity with them in God's spirit for a few moments.
I know exactly what they are feeling and what they need.
If only for a moment, we are one before Him.
And I receive as much as they do. More.

Not more... we all receive the same amount of whatever we receive from God. All it takes us introvert people to reach out, extrovert people need to get quiet and "listen for the answers"...
But other than that you know I agree on everything.
Thank you so much for sharing this.

[Rave]

What a incredible writer you are. It took me many years to get out of my shell. I found it as protection from things I saw, heard, and felt whenever I went home. But finally my first grade teacher that I had known for 4 years at that time said she had just about figured out why I was always acting tough, yet I always had so many things hurt. She said I needed to take stand and that if I lived anylonger like that I would probally get really hurt. It took me a few years because I was still very little. And I thought it was normal. But as she said it got worse and somedays I would miss because was afraid for people to see me that way. Bleeding from head to toe. Finally my shell just cracked. And c.p.s took me away. My mother didn't speak to me for years. But now I am no longer in pain everyday. I am no longer acting tough. I am a bit more like who I really am.

[Martin S]

Inspiring to share Mr. AKs rough road to find his calling and nitch in life. I too am somewhat of an Introvert and can identify. Only the extroverts know the pain they feel because just as alienation on the face of the introvert can hide there true joy. Words and and a smile can hide the true pain of the extrovert. But then again we are all alittle of both.