day 69: worKING Clothes; part 5 - Patience

At work we are reminded daily of the annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily, and hourly results and expectations. That's the way business works. The more granular and specific the targets and expectations, the better chance we have of meeting the goals as established. I once worked for someone who said, "We inspect what we expect and we expect what we inspect". Makes sense to me. However, with all of these targets and measurements we can become impatient in our expectations of others and end up driving the wrong reactions. When we are impatient everyone knows it. They know that we are asking for something that is not practical or possible, and we are just doing it for the sake of being impatient and trying to drive the ball down the field. When we get impatient though, we can make mistakes in our judgement and worse yet, we can end up treating other people badly in the process. Placing on others impatiently created expectations only leads to a loss of credibility and respect from the other person. But, we tend to be impatient, all the time, and it becomes a habit. So, how do we break the pattern? How do we find the balance between knowing what is reasonable and patient and what is not? First we must understand that we are called to be patient. Paul asks us to clothe ourselves with patience in Colossians 3:12: "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." If we start from a place of knowing that this is an expectation and part of our calling and purpose then we can take patience on with a higher level of intentionality. Becoming patient is a great challenge to ask someone at work to help you with. Find that person who you trust and always tells it to you the way it is regardless of how you will feel afterwards. Ask her/him to point out when you are being impatient with others and yourself. Tell them to be sure to not hold back and to be bluntly and timely honest with you. Listen carefully and start to make the changes necessary to being a more patient person. At work, patience with others can many times be the difference between gaining commitment versus just compliance. There is a reason it is considered a virtue.

Patience wraps up the last of five things that Paul tells us to clothe ourselves with. As we go to work and we put on our work clothes we are to ensure that we have tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. If we wear those to work everyday, how could we not be making the best impression and setting the best of examples? And, we can be assured that this a work outfit that never wears out.

Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)

day 68: worKING Clothes; part 4 - Gentleness

For many it is a frightening time in the work place. What seemed solid footing not that long ago has not become shifting sand and for the first time in a long time the loss of a job means that there is no prospect of employment any time soon. Companies are downsizing at a rate that does not show to be slowing. As I advise companies on how to go through this challenging and very difficult action, I remind them that the word "grace" should be top of mind as they plan and take action. In these most difficult of times we should also remember that being "gentle" with each other is a trait of one who is living to God's purpose. We don't hear that word much in the work place unless it is in the context of a caution prior to doing something that we already know will not be gentle in its delivery. Yet, we are called to be gentle in Colossians. Paul says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness...". For us to bring gentleness into the work place it demands that we have already tendered our heart to others and upped the empathy scale by multiples. If we are living within ourselves and our own agendas then we can never see or feel enough of another person to be gentle in our own behavior. It is ironic that many times the people we specify as being gentle are those whose physical characteristics would tend to be the opposite. We latch on to the bear-like person who is gentle in their nature. We don't have to be bear-like to be gentle and we can be gentle in our everyday approach to work and still get the job done. The tone and level of our voices, a removal of abruptness, the lingering for a moment after the conversation to allow the other person to respond, the touch of a hand, these are all mannerisms that we can take on to be gentle in our approach. But, at the base level it returns to our attitude towards others and our internal spirit. Are we ready within ourselves to be gentle? Have we gotten ourselves to a point in our heart and mind that we can be like Jesus was with those that he interacted? If we can don gentleness as part of our working outfit we will better represent the example we want others to see. What better day than today to put on gentleness as part of your working clothes?

Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)

day 65: worKING Clothes; part 1 - Tenderhearted Mercy

Over my career I have seen people make lots and lots of mistakes. Sometimes they were small mistakes made out of innocence or ignorance. Sometimes they were bigger mistakes made out of carelessness or negligence. Other times they were colossal mistakes made out of spite or maliciousness. Each type of mistake garners its own type of response and reaction. Yes, it is true, for each and every action, their is a reaction. The question is, what is to be our reactions as followers of Jesus? We all know that in the workplace us can't be wallflowers or let others run over us just because we try and live our faith in our work. If we did, then we would more than likely be ineffectual in our jobs and not likely to succeed. However, we can stand up for ourselves and be strong in our approach but still do so in away that sets an example that we desire. When mistakes are made or actions taken where we are in the position of deciding what the response should be, Paul gives us directions in Colossians 3:12 on how we are to clothe ourselves for these work and life situations. He says, "Since God chose you to be the holy people whom He loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy..." We many times equate the cry for mercy being what you hear from movies, TV and novels when someone was being tortured. But we should remember and recognize that each day we have the opportunity to tender our own hearts and show mercy on those who are in need. They may not be crying out in physical pain or begging for mercy but in their apologies for their mistakes or oversights they are asking for mercy in our reactions and responses. There are many instances where we have to take the hardest of lines and there is no choice, but even in those times we should examine ourselves to ensure that we have been tenderhearted in our approach and put ourselves in their shoes and apply the Golden Rule. The clothes we wear to work have to be durable and long-lasting. God does give us those.


Reference: Colossians 3:12 (New Living Testament)