Stoop To ConquerPrøve

Concern over Career My dad inadvertently helped me recognise my pride often exhibited in my intolerance and impatience with staff I consider difficult and incompetent. His story was an eye-opener which I can never forget! I recall knowing his subordinate as a garrulous man, even to a point of being annoying, I thought! I was not surprised when Dad confided one day about how no one was willing to have this person in any of their departments. During one of the managers’ meeting at dad’s office, all were singularly opposed to this one colleague in the department. “It is hard for all of us to extract work with his incompetence, belligerence and cocky attitude”, was the conclusion. It meant that he had to be shown the door. My dad stepped in to take him as his subordinate. “You are getting yourself into unwanted wrangle”, his boss warned! My strong-willed dad persisted in his proposition, challenging one and all that he was determined to make him a good worker! Dad finally won. Decades later this man became a freelancer doing professionally well. Only I knew that this man was an outcome of hours of patient grooming even to the point of utter vexation for my perfectionist dad! The man retained his cockiness and sarcasm as long as I remember… but that did not matter to my dad ever. “My attitude toward him was that which mattered most to God, not his toward me,” he told me! Climbing high is a good desire. But the height we desire to scale can be set by God or man. With God, along with career conquests, conquering our spirit is more important! When we are willing to relinquish our rights to realise the worth and value of people who may be downright unacceptable or frustrating, we are re-living the salvation story! The rejected and unworthy me is made acceptable by my Lord and Saviour through His sacrifice, and His ongoing patience in enduring and shaping my rough edges! Prayer Dear God, help me mirror the love I receive from You even when the craving for survival and success can be so overpowering within. Amen