This is my plea:

Why is it necessary that every conversation I have has more movie quotes than original thoughts and questions? If I am talking to you, I value YOUR words, not the newest line from The Office. I genuinely want to talk to you. Even if the conversation consists of more silence than words. That silence means more to me than another inappropriate "That's what she said...."

The reality is that a majority of the people I know haven't had a conversation with much substance in months. Both people have to have the same desire for all of this talking to become genuine communication.

I hurt for these people. Seeing someone I've known for 3 years still provide me with the same generic conversation kills me. I want to hug them with all of my might and somehow reveal to them that telling me they aren't doing "faaaaaaaantasic" is exactly what I want to hear...if that's the truth. Even if all I can do is hug you a little longer or tell you one of my lame jokes...please allow me to do that. Allow me to be your friend.

Friend.

As a Christian, there are many times I physically thirst for a conversation of some worth to our God.

I can't tell you how many times I've been surrounded by Christians who are consumed with gossip, resentment and anger. Myself included in that group. But they can cover that up with sarcasm and jokes. Do we forget that the person who just walked away as you cracked a joke about them was exactly who Jesus Christ thought of when He died? Died. For that guy who no one gets along with. Or that girl who made a few bad choices. Or that guy on the intermural field who can't play for anything. Or the friend who's gone through too many relationships to count.

Or how about me...the girl who's been known to ditch her friends when she found a boyfriend. Who was completely unstable for way too long and decided it'd be cute to transfer schools for a week and then come back, date a boy, get dumped, and try to form some kind of normal life that doesn't give people more ammo.

I know it's easy to talk about someone instead of talking TO the person right in front of you. But of we stopped ourselves each time we began to talk about someone, we wouldn't talk very much.

I think all I am asking is for a conversation. Nothing that wouldn't happen naturally. I acknowledge I will never be able to talk to everyone the way I'd like. And before anyone thinks I'm saying any of this without realizing I am guilty of it myself, please don't think that. Part of this is for myself. To keep myself accountable. And to apologize for when I've been less than a real friend.

I love you. And I mean that. Please talk to me. Talk to others.


That's my plea.