Going Deeper
Jason VanRuler
“ Friends, do I have permission to go deep with you?”
This is how I start many of my keynote talks, because I’ ve learned over time that if you give people a choice to go somewhere meaningful with you, most will.
Most people love to talk with people who go deep. You know, those people who, instead of asking you about the weather, end up talking with you about that dream you have but are afraid to go after. Because when you have these types of conversations, you share what matters most— and, if the other person receives those things well, intimacy is formed and relationships are built. If you have never had this type of relationship, the first time can be eye-opening.
Thankfully, I have many therapist friends and thinkers who also value going deep and are willing to do so often. I cannot tell you how many times I have met someone at a conference or event and ended up talking for a long time for this reason. Once you know the value of going deep, you realize it’ s where all the best relationship things happen. I think this was a gift that Jesus had. There is no place in the Bible that mentions Jesus speaking to someone about the weather, sports, or anything else that was shallow. Instead, Jesus made his words count.
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