Have you ever seen how sharks behave when there is blood in the water? They attack the wounded creature in a frenzied manner. Sometimes, they lose complete control, and even attack one another. They won’t stop until the compromised sea-creature is devoured. Then, they all disperse until the next incident.
People are sometimes like that. They can wound, and yes, even devour one another. I’ve seen this most often in environments where there is negativity and suspicion. I’ve watched as people take sides, spur one another on to bite back, settle the score, kick others when they are down, and work themselves up into a frenzy until no one is left standing. I don’t know if you have witnessed this, but if you have, you may think the sharks look tame.
Recently I was told that I would have a new assignment at work. Hearing this brought up a lot of strong emotions in me, and those around me. Some people were so angry about the change. They didn’t want to see me leave the team I have been leading for almost fifteen years. Others, I suspect, were happy, feeling as if such a change was long overdue and that I had somehow received special treatment through the years. As hard as all this has been for me to go through, it was harder to deal with the reactions of my co-workers. Almost every day I was being told that I should fight back, protest loudly, go see this person and that person, and right the ship. People were dying to tell me what they knew about the changes, and who was at fault. I told them that I didn’t want to know. My team kept bringing it up in the morning meeting, working themselves into a tizzy, saying things like they were going to quit, or that they were going to march on up to administration and let their deep dissatisfaction be known. Every time they brought it up with me, I looked to divert the conversation to the work at hand, all the while thanking them for their support. A lot of angry and hurtful things were said, and it would have been easy to join in, but I didn’t.
It also would have been easy to fan the flame of discontentment. It would have been nothing for me to find out who was to blame, and then harbor all sorts of angry feelings towards that person(s). I could have camped out in the land of, “how dare they” and “I am not appreciated” and that “this was personal”. I could have easily become one of the sharks in the water, but I didn’t.
Why?
Because, as I was going through all of this, God’s Word was in my mind, and the Holy Spirit was helping me to live it out In my heart, I could hear the wise counsel of verses like:
14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.”[c] Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life.” Philippians 2:14-16
“ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18
Now, I am not saying that we should never advocate for ourselves. All I am saying is that God’s Spirit was not leading me in that direction. What I am also certain about, is that The Holy Spirit was telling me to not to feed the negativity, and incite even more of a feeding frenzy.
Am I happy about the change? Right now, no. Yet, I trust God. He won’t waste this hardship in my life, just like He has never wasted one day of hardship with me. I also believe that He may show me that this was all for the better. Time will tell. No matter what happens, I have found myself praying more. Looking to Him more. Asking for more of His strength and peace and that I can bring Him glory in my new assignment. That is a pretty good outcome for all of this.
It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that I have been able to withstand all of this change and negativity. It will only be through the Holy Spirit that I will be able to bring Christ’s light to the new unit I am going to. Perhaps He is sending me there because He knows someone really needs my help, or to hear of the salvation that is available through Christ. That would be a pretty good outcome as well.
For Jesus,
Rob