"They must not slander anyone
and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true
humility to everyone"
Work is filled with moments that get us ruffled and upset. With all the
different kinds of personalities and personal agendas swirling around
each day it is hard to not fall into the trap of finding ourselves
irritated by the smallest word or action and sometimes just downright
angry at a co-worker over an email, something said in a meeting, or a
decision made that did not take our opinion (or feelings) into account.
We've all been there and somehow I think in today's age of email, text message, and twitter communication it is easier to misinterpret and misconstrue
things more than ever. I wish I could count the number of times, but I
can't because they are too many, where I received an email that sent me
over the top and in typing the response back if the keys weren't made of
the hard plastic that they are, they would have broken from the
striking pressure from each angry keystroke. I did learn long ago, the
hard way, that those messages must immediately go to draft and must sit
for 24 hours in their cooling off period, otherwise they cause lots more
trouble. The cooling off period is even harder when we are on our phones. It's better to lock the thing in the glove box and go on into
dinner than think you can respond in real time with anything close to
resembling civility. But, civility, diplomacy and humility is what we
are called to demonstrate.
In Titus 3:2 Paul exhorts believers to act in
a manner that is above the fray. He says, "They must not slander anyone
and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true
humility to everyone". Gentleness and humility are not usually
personality traits that show up on our business performance appraisals
as ones that will get you ahead. But, that is what we are told to be
when faced with those moments when everyone else talking behind the
backs of others or losing their cool and going after each other. Today,
when the scuffle starts see if you can be the cool headed one in the
group. The one that wards off the fight by gently bringing the
conversation back to where it should be and/or with great humility move
the position of argument to the center where it can be resolved. Use
this moment today to test yourself and for others to see that you
approached the situation differently than others and in fact become the
example of what Paul asks us to be.
Reference: Titus 3:2 (New Living Testament)
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