While You Were Working

Community can happen anywhere. Even when you aren't looking. I was reminded of this earlier this week, when at the end of the day Wednesday, the boss says, today is Carol's last day, if you want to say bye before you leave.

Upon walking in, my co-worker and I were greeted with many tears. After 13 years, she was pursuing a career, for which she had put herself through a Master's degree and you would have thought we had walked into a funeral home. I know they were tears of joy as well, for it's an exciting prospect that awaits her, but it was like watching someone who had never been away from their home and friends for more than 48 hours move half way across the globe.

We laughed and joked about it for a few minutes, as it was a priceless moment, but it proves once again, that you never know the strength and power of relationships and the impact you can make me, even when your interactions with someone may either be but for a few minutes a day or hours at a time throughout the day.

So, how does it get built when you aren't noticing that it's happening? It' in the small things.

It costs nothing to be kind.
It takes little effort to smile.
Laughter is medicine.
Speak truth seasoned with grace.
Don't be a jerk on purpose.

I heard in an interesting thought on work relationships the other day, that I thought was good...

Employers get the employees they deserve.

Then I got convicted, and realized that's probably a two-way street. Employees very well receive from their employers what the deserve as well. Thus, if you want better relationships, to an extent it is within the power of the person who desires it to work at improving it.

On this #communitySaturday, whatever "community" looks like, pray that we would engage with kindness. Pray that we would continue to be people who would speak truth seasoned with grace. May we not be people who would come across as people who intentional jerks or mean-spirited, but extend acts of goodness and words of encouragement. Indeed, may be we know by our love, even when it is hard.

That we would live according to the Spirit
Rather than controlled by our flesh.
That Christ would be revealed to others
Through lives devoted to Him.
For the glory of God
And the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC