It used to be that, if you wanted to fit in and have a conversation with a normal person, that you needed to know things about the world. You would have needed to have read the most recent books, watched the most recent movies, and kept up with the most recent sports events, etc. Without a working knowledge of popular culture, you were left to your own niche group of friends.
Enter the internet! I’m talking about my favorite part of the internet today. There are so many things that I do not like about the internet, and a few things I do like about it. Maybe I’ll address AI in a future post, maybe I won’t. Time will tell.
With the advent of the internet, you no longer need to know about Hollywood, or who won the world series last year (praise the Lord). Everyone is niche. Everyone can dive as deep as they want into their hobbies or interests. You don’t have to worry about what songs are in the top 40. You don’t even need to know that there is a top 40.
So, dive into your niche. Memorize the names of the last five ping pong (sorry, table tennis) champions of the world. Read Puritan Board for random people’s opinions on the regulative principle of worship. Listen to the myriads of mixes of the Beach Boys’ unreleased album SmiLE (actually do this though – here’s a good one).
Here’s the catch, you’ll need to be an interested person in what others’ niches are. You can dive as deep into your niche as you’d like, but you can’t forsake someone else’s niche. You should show interest enough to love them through a good conversation. You don’t have to study for this conversation, but you need to be prepared for it.
It helps if you count others more significant than yourself (Phil. 2:3). It helps if you believe that God made the world and everything in it (Col. 1:16). It helps if you believe that the person you are talking to is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27).
In other words, treat others the way you want to be treated (Matt. 7:12). It’s not hard; it’s impossible. But with God, all things are possible (Matt.19:26).
Mr. Klunick Tutoring 