Friday, September 10, 2004

blah blah blah

i am spending more and more of my life talking to groups of people. i often wonder if there is any point … you speak to groups who say nice things, but does anything change … is it worth the energy … how to bring about change … is it worth the cost to family and to personal time spent smelling the roses.

today is my 5th day of speaking in a row. i am speaking on a theological response to the foreshore and seabed issue. it is a hugely explosive issue in new zealand today, with big implications for identity and culture and reconciliation. i am nervous.

i get out of the car and a person walks over. “i have a bone to pick with you” he announces, “from the talk you did on future church last year”

“oh dear” i think.

“that talk changed our life” he says, and shares some of his story. oh well, going blah, blah, blah has been useful for at least one person.

update: while I do appreciate all the nice comments, I wish to emphasis that this post was done with a note of glad surprise, not a depressed funk seeking pats on the back.

Posted by steve at 10:47 PM

4 Comments

  1. make that two people, steve.

    Comment by si smith — September 10, 2004 @ 11:00 pm

  2. Make that 3 people mate….

    Comment by Paul — September 10, 2004 @ 11:21 pm

  3. I’ve been talking to groups of people for about 25 years, and have often wondered whether it made any difference. But I’m astonished at how often people meet me at things and say something like “do you remember speaking/singing at xxxx in 1982/1987/1991/etc… you said this one thing that changed my life.”

    Keep on, Steve. Reading your words does me a power of good; I hope I’ll hear you talking one day.

    Comment by maggi — September 10, 2004 @ 11:55 pm

  4. add me to the list – i know though that the travel and cost to your family does have to be weighed. there may be times your pearls are cast before the swine of those who aren’t really listening.

    Comment by bobbie — September 11, 2004 @ 2:35 am

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