Anecdote of the Week - June 7, 2019

I survived my first Bunco game night. Well, not survived but made it through with flying colors. I sat in as a sub and ended up winning ‘Most Buncos’. Every game from here on out may not be as thrilling if a prize doesn’t attach itself at the end. Which isn’t to say I didn’t enjoy it, I did! It was an interesting way to get to know people, a speed dating of friendships of sorts (only because I didn’t know anyone prior). The way the game is set up creates this feel between the 3 tables and constant shifting around determined by whether you won or lost the round. Losers stay put, winners move to the next table which just might be the head table which controls the start of each round (12 in total).

As I sat down at each table, ladies had gathered new information to ask me and the main subject revolved around my near travels or my podcast, which go hand in hand. I’m going to South Africa in September to interview a couple of couples for the podcast I launched in January of this year. I discovered it’s hard to multi-task — rolling dice while coming up with sound bites to describe the podcast or why I’m going and to what part in a short amount of time, we’re talking anywhere from 2-8 minute rounds. No eye contact or minimal because eyes are on the 3 dice to count or watch for the number you’re rolling for — 1’s, 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 5’s or 6’s in round 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, the number on the die matching the number of the round. I like eye contact so between the looking up, looking down and answering questions regarding all of what I’m doing was an interesting way to learn how to share about it.

It made me really think about the parts worth sharing, how to convey its message in really short anecdotal ways and had to answer some of the hard questions which came from different personalities entering and exiting the game and my circle for the brief round they came through. One was, “So what do the listener’s gain from it? Do you have any sponsors or syndications (I think that was the word)?” What do the listener’s gain? I hope a take away truth, but whose to say really what they’ll gain. I do not know all the needs, but my hope to glorify is to the Lord, which doesn’t sound like the expected entrepreneurial answer some might be expecting to hear. They’ll hopefully draw nearer to God.

I appreciated every question and every point of interest and it really made me think. It gave me the opportunity to tell 9 new people about the podcast and website and I learned a new game. And made new friends as well. I also unexpectedly won the jackpot which was a bonus I had not come for. I came to help, connect and be present with others. It was a great many more things than I expected it to be. Glad for quiet mornings to reflect, pause and ponder at God and His intentional ways.