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 When people talk too much or too long I tend to tap out.  One day, I was talking to my aunt when I completely tapped out of the conversation.  I don’t know what I was thinking about but I was no longer vested in the conversation.  After snapping out of my trance, I realized my aunt had hung up the phone.  How dare she hang up on me!  In my self-centeredness, I wanted to know why she disconnected the call.  I called her back and she informed me that I was not interested in her conversation.  She let me know that I had hurt her feelings.  At that moment, I recognized that I had been “tapping out” since returning from the Middle East.  I apologized and told her that I would work on being present in all of my relationships.   
     On yesterday, I was talking to a good friend when I recognized that I was tapping out.  In an effort to be present, I asked her to repeat said information and she agreed.  I am grateful that she demonstrated a fruit of the spirit by being patient with me (Galatians 5:22-23).  Over the past two weeks, several people talked to me about their desire to have successful friendships/relationships.  During the conversation, each person was busy talking to other people, texting or not listening. Honestly, I felt dismissed.  Here you are talking to me about wanting a good friend but you don’t think enough of me to actually talk let alone listen.  I guess that is how my aunt felt.  I don’t want anyone I speak to feeling dismissed or devalued.     
     Unfortunately, some of us are not self-aware.  We can be dismissive towards those we love.  Why?  We tend to take people who are familiar for granted.  The people in our lives want to feel seen, heard, loved and appreciated.  I know we are facing many challenges but we need each other and we need to be present.  Let me tell you a story.  When I was in basic training, we were taught a series of commands and drills.  Before graduation, we were tested and graded on everything we were taught.   The drill instructor would give a command such as right face, at ease or attention.  If we were not in the correct position or our fingers were not extended correctly, the drill instructor would say, “Make necessary corrections”.  He/she did not tell us what corrections to make; he/she relied on us to apply everything we had learned and to adjust accordingly.   
     Most of us have been taught how to treat others.  If you haven’t been taught, you know how you want to be treated so use that as a point of reference.  I have made the necessary corrections in order to be present in all of my relationships. Are you willing to make the necessary corrections in order to have the type of friendships/relationships you desire?