The Gift of Introversion

Introverts are loyal friends. No quote from my book, Introverts in the Church,
has resonated quite like the one I wrote about introverts and friendship:
“Introverts treasure the relationships they have stretched so much to make.” It
may take us a while to warm up to people, but once we’re in, we’re in. We will
prioritize you, and we won’t easily give up our friendship because of conflict or
changing life circumstances.
Introverts see things. I have often thought that if someone were to write me into
a novel, I wouldn’t be the protagonist or any other central character; I would be
the narrator. Those of us who like to sit on the sidelines and observe others often
see more than those in the center of the action. We notice group dynamics and
individual behaviors that others might miss, which is a reason introverts make
excellent therapists.
Introverts are compassionate. When you have an inward orientation, you go
deep into yourself, and you can see both the good and the bad, the light and the
dark. Honest self-reflection, usually borne out of solitude, helps us to extend
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