unexpected conversations lead to the best realizations

So for over a year now, I’ve been trying to access my dental and vision policy information from my insurance. My employer could only give me so much information, so the rest was on me to find out.

Lately, since I’ve been on my own, I’ve had to take issues with companies into my own hands. As the daughter of a “hmmm… that don’t sound right”, lemme see the receipt, calculating discounts in her head mother I’ve learned that I am quick to get on the phone to talk to SOMEBODY. The only difference between my mother and myself is that I make the person on the other line my best friend before I start my complaint.

This time with my insurance company, it was different.

After giving the woman on the line all my information, she asked me if I was a teacher. Of course, I proudly said “Yes ma’am! I teach the littles.” Of course we start going into a conversation about all the school issues that we should not be worried about such as school shootings. But to keep the conversation light, we then start talking about my favorite: Abbott Elementary. Keep in mind these were all topics initiated by her which - rather seen as “professional” or not - really kept me engaged in the conversation.

But then, our next topic turned into a conversation about the Lord and the woman started telling me about her individual walk with God. It sparked from her first going from Abbott to old tv shows she enjoys and then music. After that, then it was no longer the nice customer service rep that I was talking to, I believe God was starting to speak through her.

She began talking about how she now has to limit herself to what she listens to simply because she has realized it’s not good for her spirit. She used to love to listen to certain secular music because of the beat and it was so good to her. She said specifically, “it was slammin’” but now she heard from a preacher that what we listen to can get in our spirit and although we may not participate in it, listening to it is almost condoning it.

Immediately I felt a form of… realization (maybe a light form of conviction). Keep in mind, this is an almost 53, possibly white woman and she was very careful with her words and didn’t sound like a broken #christiantiktok record which I appreciated.

Honestly, it’s always hard for me to talk about “secular” or non-christian music simply because I like music. I grew up in a musical household with not so great singing all around. A lot of my great think pieces comes from music and other forms of entertainment. Not to mention, with the sudden decrease of good albums over the last 2-3 years (and everybody just now getting outside in 2023) I try to hold on to whatever good music that comes out - because who knows when Beyonce might go on a hiatus again?

But with all of these holy convictions and my spirit becoming more and more sensitive to things, it’s harder to ignore the clear and evident signs that some of this just ain’t right. And it’s hard to continue to support and watch some of your most authentic faves go down a path that isn’t as refined as what I liked to believe that *they* were.

As the woman and I continued to talk, it was a great reminder that life - this life - is truly a journey. As I mentioned before she is turning 53 this year, and even she said that she’s learned her most life lesson over the last 3 years.

I may not be able to dump over 20 years of secular music after a 30 minute conversation with a random stranger. But that conversation has lead me to believe that over time, my demand to be entertained will lessen and my desire for all things holy will increase. I am not perfect, nor should I expect myself to try to act that way. But my focus can and should remain on Him. Instead of looking to others to be refined, I should allow Him to refine me - and all other changes will follow.