Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - looking for new ways to improve social/religious growth

Colin Pedicini · 11-05-2006, 05:31 AM

This is my first post so I'm a bit nervous...

I come at this from a somewhat unique perspective...3 months premature birth leading to cerebral palsy on left side. As such I've never been an athlete. This is how I became a Christian...I wouldn't be here if it weren't for God. I'm fairly new with first service Jan 8 and baptism Jun 5, both this year. I've written reviews of all of these at my website.

I've had people say I'm very loyal and even remark I'd be good at remembering anniversaries, but when I try and open up, they turn off, even those single.

1) Most of the time the conversation ends whenever I'm asked to name my majors (math and history). The perception seems to be that I'm too busy to get to know. When I went through one such stretch, I completely shut down for two weeks 9though since returned to normal) and now, six weeks later, people are still talking about it. (Most often I'm first asked if I'm still busy or skipping meals to study.)

2) I'm skinny so I eat plenty, but the palsy means I need 45 minutes to eat a full meal--and that's without talking. I've got issues there. Just today (Nov 4) I ended up at three different tables...it seems most aren't interested in a deep conversation or don't have longer than 5 minutes.

3) Just stopping and trying to talk to folks...most of the time they're not interested and the conversation ends after three seconds.

4) As mentioned...when I say I'll call or write, I always do, but usually that's it from them. (Most of the time I don't get a follow-up response.)

5) It seems as though most of my church networks keep multiplying and splitting (which is good) but this means my social networks constantly shift every three weeks so I've barely grown at all this semester. I've been trying to remedy but the response has been "we'll wait until next semester." That's January 18! I'm a bit weary when someone says "I'll write you back" because the vast majority of the time this does not happen.

All of this leads to...I'm having one of those midlife crises where I'm not sure whether I should do math, history, law, or the ministry. You can extend this to faith as well...I'm having a hard time believing the words of Jeremiah 29:11.

My biggest concern is not having an accountability partner I can actually *know* on a deep level. We're also at the point where it seems my entire support network has completely fallen apart, and even where I have success I'm almost never in the loop.

Suggestions?

11-05-2006, 05:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Colin Pedicini Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Las Cruces NM Posts: 11	looking for new ways to improve social/religious growth This is my first post so I'm a bit nervous... I come at this from a somewhat unique perspective...3 months premature birth leading to cerebral palsy on left side. As such I've never been an athlete. This is how I became a Christian...I wouldn't be here if it weren't for God. I'm fairly new with first service Jan 8 and baptism Jun 5, both this year. I've written reviews of all of these at my website. I've had people say I'm very loyal and even remark I'd be good at remembering anniversaries, but when I try and open up, they turn off, even those single. 1) Most of the time the conversation ends whenever I'm asked to name my majors (math and history). The perception seems to be that I'm too busy to get to know. When I went through one such stretch, I completely shut down for two weeks 9though since returned to normal) and now, six weeks later, people are still talking about it. (Most often I'm first asked if I'm still busy or skipping meals to study.) 2) I'm skinny so I eat plenty, but the palsy means I need 45 minutes to eat a full meal--and that's without talking. I've got issues there. Just today (Nov 4) I ended up at three different tables...it seems most aren't interested in a deep conversation or don't have longer than 5 minutes. 3) Just stopping and trying to talk to folks...most of the time they're not interested and the conversation ends after three seconds. 4) As mentioned...when I say I'll call or write, I always do, but usually that's it from them. (Most of the time I don't get a follow-up response.) 5) It seems as though most of my church networks keep multiplying and splitting (which is good) but this means my social networks constantly shift every three weeks so I've barely grown at all this semester. I've been trying to remedy but the response has been "we'll wait until next semester." That's January 18! I'm a bit weary when someone says "I'll write you back" because the vast majority of the time this does not happen. All of this leads to...I'm having one of those midlife crises where I'm not sure whether I should do math, history, law, or the ministry. You can extend this to faith as well...I'm having a hard time believing the words of Jeremiah 29:11. My biggest concern is not having an accountability partner I can actually know on a deep level. We're also at the point where it seems my entire support network has completely fallen apart, and even where I have success I'm almost never in the loop. Suggestions?