day 538: The Opposite Reaction

Every once in a while we are fortunate enough to be the presence of someone who has a opposite reaction to what we expect and we are amazed. Usually we don't want opposite reactions. Usually we want a predictable and expected response but in one particular case, the "opposite reaction" is extraordinary and this is when someone is being rewarded, getting thanked, or being showered with accolades. It is at this moment that the opposite reaction is always the best. In fact, if the reaction is genuinely opposite then we will actually go and tell others about it. What I mean is when someone shows full humility and passes their accolades on to someone else and while in that moment puts themselves so far below others that we are all amazed, touched and moved it becomes special. It is because the person's behavior is an "opposite" reaction to what most other people will do. It's amazing how many times throughout the day we have the opportunity to show humility. It starts with when we receive praise for the work we do. Since very little work is done by someone alone, are we taking that moment to show off someone else or show off ourselves? When it comes time to receive the award does it become ours or is it the teams? If we are looking for a role model we have to look no further than In Numbers 12:3 where we are told; "Now Moses was more humble than any other man on earth". Just to read that right, "...than any other man on earth". Yes, the Moses that we now hold up as such a great man and example can also be looked at as the man who must have done the "opposite" all the time as he was known to be a man of humility. This week what opportunities did you have to do the opposite and turn the glory and the spotlight over to others? What opportunities will you have today or next week? Remember, if we have the "opposite reaction" of what others expect from us, and we model humility like Moses, then our opposite reaction for what the world expects becomes then exactly what God expects.

Reference: Numbers 12:3 (New Living Testament)