… This was a response I got from one of my small group guys last week when I was making sure everyone signed up for the new year. When I heard it, I was definitely caught off guard. Sure, this is someone who is different from some of the guys in the group, but in my mind, everyone in the group was bonded together. Apparently there are different relationship levels happening that I don’t see (not surprising).

Rather than freak out, I regrouped and started to think about how I could respond. I thought about some ways I could explain that he does have things in common with people, and I jotted some things down before I called him back. Here are some of those things:

• You have more in common with the guys than you think. Just because it seems like you are different, it doesn’t mean you don’t have anything in common.
• You’ve seen that you all have common struggles. That’s something you have in common.
• Have you really tried to open yourself up to new people? Maybe these guys aren’t people you would normally hang out with, but you haven’t really given them a chance.

Question: What would you have said in this situation?