No. 035 — James Rutledge
“Joel?”
“Yes! James? Good to meet you!”
The first time I ever laid eyes on James was when I opened the door of my home prior to recording this podcast with him. The experience was a new one for me, being the very first time that I knew no more than a person’s name before having them on the show. James is a friend of a friend, and someone I was told had an interesting life. He reached out to me on his own to express interest in being on the podcast, and I was happy to honour him by having him over to record some of his story with me.
James and I sat down not knowing anything about one another. Over the course of the conversation I would come realize that he and I differed from one another in a number of ways — and yet each of us had enough humility and perspective to sit down with the other and talk. I think that far too few of us are really willing to do this: to hear someone out even when we don’t totally agree with them. When was the last time that you shared in conversation with someone totally different than yourself? I know it isn’t something I make a habit of doing. Yet I can say with confidence that this experience was something I grew from, and I am happy to have had it.
I hope that this conversation inspires you — to listen to someone else, to hear them out, and to learn, even if only how to disagree with grace. The world is much bigger than you and I, friend.
Music created and provided by Maarten Schellekens
Intro: Sunday Morning (Mallet Play with Violin and Piano)
Outro: Mallet Play
