Today I find myself dealing with barriers and adversity within my work. Without going into the details of the situation, it is clear that disrupting KVCC with the iPad 1:1 program is going to have to endure the attack of many levels of administration and others.
Today’s Bible reading devotional seems to address what it is I am to do under circumstances of adversity. While the context of this advice is when we are under adversity for our faith, I believe it has application with every aspect of adversity…including the unimportant work-related ones!
Bring healing
My approach needs to NOT be rash and should not push people away. If the things that I said to my windshield (as I process some of my anger out loud) were actually said to the people in question I would certainly get nowhere. I have to restrain my anger and frustration and seek to heal those around me.
Be truthful
In all I say I need to be sure that I do my research and get the facts straight. I can’t make my argument based on what I THINK is happening, but on what I have clear evidence for. This will endure. Despite the tendency we have to mix up opinion and data.
Be restrained
This one is similar to the “Bring healing” mentioned above. I have a tendancy to blurt out my thoughts. While it may be true that these attacks have no basis in truth and fact, and it may be true that the attackers really do have “real” power over the situation and are not using their own restraint of these powers…I am not in the position to go full tilt against them. This will only make me look like the fool. I have already failed in a number of circumstances with this. I struggle with restraining my outrage.
This is the tough one because I am so angry at this situation. So angry at the things that were taken from me by this administration…projects that I have been working on and the expressions of my knowledge and talents.
Restraint also needs to be applied to the expression of knowledge. This is an interesting one. “A prudent person is reluctant to display his knowledge.”
What? This is what I bring to the table…! Just because I know the answer does not mean I need to show it off. This might be where I am intimidating and when I act this way around those in power (who also lack knowledge) they are left in a defensive position. While my intent is simply to win the argument, it is perceived of as a challenge to power.
Be kind
Everyone around me has their own anxieties. I need to be more understanding and apply this to the interactions I have. MY particular issue is not necessarily on the top of everyone’s agenda! (I know this, but to practice this within this context is challenging!)
Be at peace
Ultimately I need to rely on one thing and one thing alone. This is all part of a lager plan. God’s plan. I face these things as part of an overall preparation for something much larger than I can see. Maybe I have to face adversity in something more important and this is a preparation…maybe it is as simple as making a career change.
Either way…God is in charge.
Pray for peace
If we want God to answer our prayers we need to be focused on Him. During this time I’m also working on removing the worldly distractions that distance me from God and focus my attention on what He wants me to focus it on.
In fact, as I write this, I realize that this whole situation is a distraction from what he wants me to focus on! Here I am at 3:11 am perseverating about this situation when I should be focusing on being thankful that I’m alive and well and learning about what God has planned for me!
There are so many distractions in this world that tie us down from accomplishing God’s plan.
I spend a LOT of time focused on my career. But that focus is still connected to other people. By this I mean that I am tied deeply to the thoughts of others on what I’m doing. It is vanity, really.
Yet, I still know, and I’m experiencing this insight as I write this, that the good work, the creativity, the labors that I have in front of me need to be focuse on God, not on other people. I do these things not to bring attention to myself but to glorify Him.
So my prayer for peace is to ask God to intervene and help me realize how unimportant these circumstances are in the larger scheme of His plan…while at the same time, celebrating his power in me to be creative, encouraging, kind, and patient.
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Mark K.