I don't usually talk to people on elevators. Why? Because I'm terrible at small talk. I've gotten better over the years out of necessity, but honestly, I usually just end up grinding the conversation to a halt when strangers try to strike one up out of the blue.
When I get on an elevator, if someone says anything other than "Hi" or "How are you?" more often than not, I am totally thrown for a loop.
Well-intentioned remarks like "Oh, can't be doin' that!" (in reference to my yawning) or "Man, those people drive me crazy!" are usually just met with a forced nervous laughter and/or a "yeah" on my part for lack of anything to say in response. Yep, terrible. (As a side note, this is probably one of the many things I trace back to going to school with the same 34 people for 12 years. I didn't have to meet new people until I was 18. It was then I found out I was bad at it.)
My lack of ability to talk about the weather with strangers, I think, is influenced by my desire to really know people and skip past all that. When I meet a new group of people, I can't wait for the point in time where we know what is going on in each other's lives and can really be honest with each other.
In congruence with my desire to know people's stories, I had an idea to do a blog series in which I interview people from all walks of life and share their perspectives on a specific topic, asking them each the same set of questions.
The topic I chose to focus on is truth. Over the last couple of years, I've become more and more aware of the noise and fluidity of our culture, and the role truth plays is becoming harder and harder to define. Finding solid ground amid the chaos and commotion of life and culture has become important to me. This, combined with the fact that people have hugely different views on truth today made me interested to hear what other people have to say on the topic.
The series I'm starting will henceforth be known as "The Truth Sessions." Admittedly a little cheesy, but it was the best I could come up with. Plus "The Truth Project" is apparently already a thing.
Anyway, like I said, in this series, I'll be attempting to ask people from many walks of life the same set of 4-5 questions pertaining to truth. Some may believe in universal truth, some may not. I hope I have compiled questions that will allow both types of people to answer.
Through this series I hope to share a handful of different perspectives and stories, but also dig deeper into the idea of truth and its role in our lives. The question I'm most excited to hear people's answers to is: what is a statment, ideal or principle you have found to be most true about the human experience throughout your life? For example, mine would be: that people just want to feel loved and known. The more stories I hear (whether uplifting or heart-wrenching) seem to always come back to that fact. (As a Christian, I feel that also points to our universal need for Christ.)
But that's just my answer. I want to hear others'.
My goal is to post once a week in this series, each with a new set of answers from a new person.
Stay tuned for the first edition next week!
Let me know what you think about the concept in the comments--I'd love your feedback. Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!