Words

Corporate leaders wandered through the store thanking, hand shaking and well wishing employees a happy holidays and a congratulations for a successful year.  Among the chatter an introduction of a new employee was made and with the introduction came an explanation that this employee was in between jobs and was working here until full time employment was to be found.  I cringed.  Never would I begrudge someone from finding full time employment but I knew that soon we would be searching for yet another employee.

Days later I found out that someone else had taken that conversation much differently.  This person had taken the conversation to mean that the new employee was much better than the rest of us and had lowered himself to work here till his feet landed that perfect job.  He chose to believe there was an implication that we had chosen unworthy careers and were stuck here forever. 

Often I have heard it, said it and even written about it, words mean things.  We have to be careful! Tis very true, however, very often words don't mean things.  We often make up meanings to build up something within our souls.  We get upset, mad, bitter or create a cleverness about ourselves dragging  in ideas that were not intended. 

Why choose to read negative thoughts into harmless situations?  Do I enjoy the bitterness, hatred and spite?  Is it all really worth it?  If I become this bitter old man, people will not want to hear my opinion.  They will not want to desire in my desires or suffer in my suffering.  And they surely will not want to know my God. 

Many times I conjure up ideas about what people say and it affects my perspective of others and makes my flavor distasteful and my light go dim.

                                                                     Matthew 5:13

                                                   "You are the salt of the earth; but if
                                                    the salt loses its flavor, how shall it
                                                    be seasoned/?  It is then good for
                                                    nothing but to be thrown out and
                                                    trampled underfoot by men."
                                                                                                 NKJV


                                                                   Matthew 5:16

                                                 "Let your light so shine before men
                                                  that they my see your good works and
                                                  glorify your Father in Heaven."
                                                                                                  NKJV

I pray that in this new year our flavor will be rich and our light will shine bright.

Happy New Year!

Purpose

                                                                   
                                                                     

                                                                       Proverbs 16:2
                                                  
                                                      All a man's ways seem innocent
                                                                          to him,
                                                          but motives are weighed
                                                                     by the Lord.

                                                                     Proverbs 19:21

                                                            Many are the plans in a
                                                                    man's heart,
                                                          but it is the Lord's purpose
                                                                     that prevails.


Life isn't a round-a-bout allowing us to go around in a circle turning in and out whenever we please.  Our course is a narrow, straight path focusing in on the direction God has purposed for us.  We must not spend our time studying God's Word to see what we can get away with.  We must study to see how we can best please our Savior. 

Why do we always get out in front of ourselves?  It doesn't matter if we are government, unions, employers, employees, parents or even spouses, if it is possible to control, we push it till conflict and chaos ensues.  We ruin everything we have.  We want control, we reach for chaos, we get both, we want neither.

As a politician, do I strive for freedom so my people can make decisions, or do I make decisions so my people must strive for freedom?  As a union leader, do I breed loyalty and appreciation in my members, or do I cause irritation and angst developing a thankless heart and a lazy spirit?  As an employer, do I understand my workers are the sweat of my success and reward them justly, or do I flaunt my power to take captive their willing spirit for my advantage?  As an employee, am I thankful and willing to go above and beyond to help my employer become successful, or am I despondent and ungrateful making my presence pitiful?  As a parent, do I encourage and teach my children to be upright in word and deed, or do I send the message of discord through my practice and perfection?  As a spouse, do I understand my mate is there for my betterment not for my control? 

What is my motive?  Is my purpose in line with that of my God? 

No matter how smart I feel, no matter what path I choose, whether I ignorantly misstep, rebelliously ruin or passionately follow, Gods purpose will prevail.

                                                     
                                                      ~As life moves on and our
                                                        pride becomes battered
                                                               our heart will grow softer
                                                               our dependence will grow stronger
                                                               our God will grow greater~  

How Long?

When interviewing, a question that comes up quite often and I'm sure is lied about quite regularly is this ~ "Tell me about a failure in your life."  Nice! I'm here to impress you with my qualities and you want to know how much of a loser I am.  Well, here goes another job offer down the tubes.

One of my many failures came out in a review I once had.  This boss of mine told me that my biggest problem is that I hold on to people too long. "When people don't produce for you, cut them off sooner" he said.  I'm not sure if I have this problem because I want my people to succeed or if I don't want to fail. 

Over the years, being in contact with many different kinds of employees, I see characteristics that irk me.  Some because they remind me of quirks I can't get rid of in myself and some because it causes me trials....more work, more discipline, more confrontation.  When I look at the situation as their fault, the irritation worsens and not only is the problem not solved, I become a problem as well. Comradary becomes worse, my attitude begins to affect other things I do...how I handle situations and relationships.  And certainly this fault thing doesn't help my progress with said party.

Compassion becomes another option.  Wanting to see someone succeed gives an outward goal......something else to focus on rather than worry about poor, poor me.  Many times people are waiting for an arm around the shoulder or a kick in the butt to give them the motivation they need to move on to the next level.  The ability to watch someone grow and develop is exciting.  Unfortunately, growing and developing isn't always the outcome.  Yet, in the battle, many positives about this person surface because my heart wasn't blinded by my self-centeredness.  The time may come, however, for some people to move on and have this mentoring process continue elsewhere. 

Often I look at these situations and wonder if the placement of these people in my life were there for their betterment or for growth in my life.

How long do I hold on?  Always a good question to ponder.