Conversational Focus
The older I become, the more I am realizing how I spend time and the conversations I am having with those whom I spend time. It is an interesting awareness which I am finding, more and more, makes me conscious of my part in dialogues. Let’s face it: We, each of us, have a responsibility when communicating—as the listener and the talker.
Yeah, yeah, yeah….I know you’ve heard this before. I had too, but recently I had an experience which reminded me that people will use you as their audience to justify their point of view and how easy it is to be that audience for them when you lose your conversational focus.
A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” —John 9:24-25
People will see Truth in you. They understand the value of your concurrence. You better understand your worth—spiritually. It has physical manifestations…and you better believe an audience that tunes in nonstop.
- “A second time they summoned the man….” Don’t sleep on this! Just because you think a conversation is over does not mean that everyone has let it go. Isn’t it funny how gossip seems to go on and on and on? Truth will stop it every time though. Don’t Get Caught Up
- “We know this man is a sinner.” Note: Words spoken with authority are not always words of certainty. Truth is Truth. It does not need a majority vote.
- The man’s response, however, impressed within me an “Aha!”
Here, I saw a perfect example of the application of conversational focus. In short, he was not persuaded by the excitement surrounding the discussion. He was not influenced by the person speaking to him nor his entourage. Fear was secondary.
Instead, this man did two things. He listened and when he spoke, he spoke only Truth. When you speak, do you only speak Truth? Were you blind and now can see?