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There’s a passage in 1 Corinthians 12 that talks about the diversity in the body of Christ. Paul writes to those believers: But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body (1 Corinthians 12:18-20).
My friend Afton, who is a self-described introvert, emphasizes the importance of all of us in the body of Christ recognizing and appreciating those different from us, such as introverts and extroverts. Afton is leading a workshop at our upcoming Weekend Getaway on this topic, and she made this point:
Afton: Extroverts need to understand introverts, and introverts need to understand extroverts, and how we can find our voice in a church setting, a Bible study setting, a work setting – yes even our homes. And retreats can be hard places for introverts. Because a retreat is full of people, full of small talk, lots of buzz, and an introvert can walk into that and feel like, what am I doing here? So, I’m hoping introverts will come and will feel welcome and that the extroverts in our midst will help them find their voice.
Mary: You know, the sad truth is that our culture often devalues a quiet person. It’s not the quiet person who is seen as the successful person.
Afton: I think that is true in a business setting—a person who talks well and who can “work a room” is often given preference.
I realize again how easy it is for us to think that the world would be better off if everyone was like we are, when the truth is, that would be disastrous! Quiet people are often the ones who think most deeply and have the most to offer, if we’d just encourage them to find their voice.
