One of my subjects at college this semester is called 'Understanding Buddhism and Islam'. As part of this subject we have to have two conversations with a Muslim or a Buddhist to talk about their beliefs.
I do not want to do this. Meeting new people is nerve-wracking enough for me even when they're Christian. It's not so bad when you're put in a situation together and you're forced to meet, like get-to-know-you time at church or group discussions in class. You know that the people around you are expecting to have a conversation. Or even when you're only semi-forced, like sitting next to someone in a lecture. You're both already in the situation, they're right there, you just have to start talking.
But when you have to find someone to talk to; approach them when they're not looking for or asking for a conversation, that's when it's scary.
Starting this kind of conversation terrifies me.
At uni, O-Week and Jesus Week were the two weeks of the academic year I had the most mixed feelings about. These were the weeks when the Christian group I was part of at uni did a high amount of walk-up evangelism and basically talking to strangers. Even with a Christian friend coming with me, I was not often keen to do this. I knew the reasons why we did it, and I was behind it wholeheartedly, I was just scared of doing it myself.
I have been thinking of using my two free hours at college on Wednesday afternoons to go to Sydney uni and find a Muslim to talk to. Today was the first day I actually had that time free to go. I chickened out.
I know that I'm being irrational. I don't even know what I'm scared of.
Through college mission in first term I met someone at Sydney uni who works with and has met a lot of Muslims this year. I've asked her to introduce me to someone she knows. I'm meeting up with her tomorrow.
Please pray that I would have courage and confidence. Pray that I would seize this opportunity and grow as a result of it.
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