C is for Compelling

BOYS WEEKEND was the label for our two-three nights at the Labus Lakehouse. One of our final weekends to spend together before college sent us on our separate ways. Boating, kayaking, jumping off the deck, grilled food, deep talks, bonfires, country, and pop music well more specifically Post Malone, Luke Combs, Thomas Rhett, and Drake if Drew was on aux, and even some basketball made up our weekend. Not much better than that.

During this hyped boys weekend, we had retired from the water for the night. Caleb had even gone to bed because he wasn't feeling good. The bonfire broke the darkness with its flames burning bright. Then, I watched a new flame begin to amass just as the bonfire did, but this one was in the minds of the boys of boys weekend. Some two hooligans decided to jump in the water in the darkness that hindered your ability to see like the okay blindfold at birthday parties for a : whacking. Their goofy radiance as they exclaimed the excitement for jumping and not knowing when you are gonna hit the water roped in another hooligan. Together, they took the 20-30 foot plummet to the lake waters. This second go-round only hyped up their excitement. Wyatt exclaims loudly "Who is next, we are gaining one more each time, Come On!"

Drew and I, the more stubborn ones of the group, were pretty sure we weren't going to get wet, wake-up, and away from the bonfire, just to do a jump we'be done 45 times already in the dark. Yet, a 4th hooligan joined. Then, a 5th hooligan. A 6th hooligan. I'm pretty sure the 7th hooligan was Mr. Labus (who came out of nowhere). They woke Caleb up out of bed for another hooligan and I was beginning to question if I was the hooligan for not joining. Sure enough, all 11 or 12 of us were on top of that ledge in the night that had just crept onto morning. We jumped probably 10-15 more times that night and I cherish that memory.

Compelling; adjective

Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way.

not able to be refuted; inspiring conviction.

not able to be resisted; overwhelming.

Recently, I had to do a persuasive speech for class and I am taking a class in persuasion. There's a lot of techniques on how to be more persuasive, studies on what makes certain things more persuasive, or theories on persuasion in general. Compelling has to common uses in our language. A person being compelling or a compelling argument.

Compelling arguments are often used ironically and that isn't the point of this blog anyway. A compelling person, however, is the point of the blog. What made Wyatt and the hooligans compelling on that day? What makes someone compelling in general?

I think it's a bit of a moving target. What is compelling for one person isn't always compelling for another. Yet, the mixture is usually some ratio of this: competence, joy, creativity/uniqueness, improvement, and can-do.

Competence: If I don't feel like you know who you are, what you're doing, or the impact it's making, I am not gonna find you compelling.

Joy: There was something about the big giddy grins climbing up on the deck for another jump that dramatically increased my likelihood of following. Joy is something we all desire to increase so if a person lacks joy or passion, they lack the ability to be compelling.

Creativity/Uniqueness: It doesn't necessarily seem like it fits into a compelling person, but if someone comes off as a familiar or what they do is something you've heard before, then it's not compelling to anyone. Think about it, the person we want to be "Evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully irresistible way" is our spouse or future spouse. If they aren't unique, well I shouldn't even have to finish that sentence.

Improvement: A person or even an argument isn't compelling if it is complacent. I won't follow someone if their story is them staying at point A. I won't follow a way of life unless it gets me somewhere.

Can-do: There is a difference between inspiring and compelling, although they overlap. Inspiring makes you do more. A story of someone overcoming a terrible disease through exercise whenever possible with whatever minimal energy they have like James Connor of the Pittsburgh Steelers is inspiring. It makes me want to use my energy more wisely. Compelling has a sameness to the inspiration. Wyatt and the Hooligans I describe as compelling because I could replicate their behavior.

*This is not an extensive list*

Usually, I relate this back to faith and I think it's clear how we can be compelling in our faith lives. Yet, I really just wanted to highlight the word compelling so that we can give the gift of that compliment to each other. When you recognize that someone's faith, prayer life, work ethic, the way they treat people, drive, word choice, confidence, positivity etc. is compelling, LET THEM KNOW. I think sharing with someone that they make a difference with their way of life is a top-notch compliment. So to Mrs. Thieme and her blog henevermisses.com, thank you for your compelling positivity and lense of faith looking upon people all around us.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL!