As I walk the 36th floor, I realize that there is a big difference in what happens when I meet someone. On one hand, I can meet them and introduce myself. While I do not have a problem with the process, however there is always an awkward moment as I struggle to find something that is of interest to them. What do they want to know? Is there anything that I could offer that is of real interest?
In contrast, when another introduces me, the process is very different. The injection of a third party changes the dynamic. Smiles are immediate. A connection forms naturally. Trust is imparted without reservation. I have a place within the others view and I know it.
The reality of the process has given me a glimpse into a responsibility that I carry. I am familiar with individuals and ideas. I have struggled with them for a time. I have walked together with them, working through the challenges that come in the course of the days. We know each other in ways that I do not understand. When someone needs an introduction, I have an important role to play. What happens next is up to them. I am merely part of a first step.
The process has been going across the generations. Even though an old wisdom father knew the individuals he was going to meet, a lot of time has passed. Rather than leave him to struggle with the introductions, friends stepped in. Their notes documented the action. “The first thing next morning, we took Paul to see James. All the church leaders were there.” (Acts 21.18)
Today is going to unfold in ways I do not understand, cannot anticipate. I know that I am not alone. Others will be there with me. I have an opportunity to introduce them to friends and ideas that they have not met. The process is a calling I need to be careful with. They trust me to start the process, not finish it. They look to me as a catalyst not the glue.
