The other day “the rest of the story” just popped into my head.
That prompted a memory of a 10 year old me, riding in the back seat of an early 70’s Oldsmobile woodgrain sided station wagon.
AM radio still ruled in those days, and I recalled that in between songs, this fellow named Paul Harvey would come on and tell a story. He would build up an interesting fact, then there would be a soap commercial.
Afterwards he would finish the story, usually with a climatic ending. With that, he would announce that you now know “the rest of the story.”
That memory got me thinking of how today we often don’t hear beyond the headline, much less go deep into the story.
Especially when it comes to personal relationships.
There was a time when hours were spent communicating with each other. People spent hours together in the park, strolling down the boardwalk, or sitting around an old wood stove in an old country store.
Lengthy handwritten letters were sent to those far away, sharing their deepest thoughts. Postcards were a way to keep in touch between letters, or for a quick “hello” to an acquaintance.
Telephones began to rule replacing many postcards and letters. Personal computers brought us email, and instant messenger, which started taking away many phone conversations.
Cell phones arrived, perhaps bringing a rise again in phone conversations, only to diminish again as email became available via the phone. Before long text messages started to rule as a premier method of personal communication. We think we’re too busy, thus needed words reduced to acronyms and emojis. (IMHO, BTW). (😕)
I’m not anti texting, and I am grateful to advancing technology, making communication affordable and pretty much always accessible.
It is distancing us from deeper personal communication, that’s all I’m saying.
Today, even the best of friends can go weeks without direct communication, but stay updated simply by viewing each other’s social media posts.
I believe we are wired for deeper meaningful relationships, or perhaps I’ve just aged enough to ponder “the good ole days”.
So, I went old school and started sending handwritten letters and cards. I sent some to people that I haven’t spoken to in a few years, and was uplifted in the process. Several called to catch up, and one responded in kind, sending me a return letter.
Isn’t it kind of cool when in between all the junk mail, there sits a card, perhaps birthday, that someone took the time to write and mail? To me, it seems just a little more special if I’m holding something tangible.
I began to wonder what we are missing when we don’t spend enough time hearing the “rest of the story” when we encounter someone new.
I thought about our personal plight, where we are attempting to save a failing business. Without knowing the “rest of the story” it seems like a senseless mission.
This has led us to share our story with people we encounter, and in turn listen to their stories. While we can easily justify we don’t have the time, we intentionally take the time. The results are rewarding and our business is becoming a space for people to come just hang out for hours, and share life together.
How about you? Does anyone know “the rest of your story?” Do you spend time getting to know the “rest of the story” from people you encounter?
In future posts, I’ll share some of the amazing things we’ve learned and have been blessed by, simply as a result of taking time to engage in genuine conversation.
hope you tune back in, “good day”.
rescued and restored
al