Ok, so the picture of this gentlemen to the right probably doesn't mean much to you. Honestly, I wouldn't have a clue either if I hadn't read his book over the summer (a huge catalyst for this blog) and thus stumbled across an interview of him that featured this glamour shot. So this is none other than Adam McHugh, author of Introverts in the church.
Here's an excerpt from the interview about gifts the Introvert can give to the church:
What gifts do introverts bring to their church community?
This is such an important question. So often we define introversion by what it's not, and I would like us to start defining introversion by its assets, not its liabilities.
People in our culture so rarely have the experience of being truly listened to--having not only their words taken seriously, but also having their feelings, questions, and doubts underneath those words paid attention to. Even though listening is always a discipline to be cultivated, introverts may have a head start on listening. Because we process internally, and take up less social space, we can offer a nonjudgmental posture that frees people to open up to us. I also think that people who go deep into their own souls--and find both the good stuff and the bad stuff--are capable of a powerful compassion for others. These are just two of the several gifts I explore in the book.
I gleaned a lot from the interview and a lot from the book, obviously. Check out the full interview here.
What are some ways you see the Introvert fitting in the church?
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