While going through I Corinthians 8 this morning, Kimberly's and my chapter for this week, I had some thoughts about dealing with an issue at work yesterday.
Some of you pray for my coworkers, so I won't use names here.
The situation is we are moving (again) to our fourth workstation in about three months. My coworker said we had been instructed to "work it out ourselves." Her solution was for our male coworker to take her desk, her to take my desk, and I could go sit with my team (nearby), taking a desk from one of them.
As my team is already overflowing its work area, I said I needed to talk to our contractor boss and have him find me a seat. That kind of process is in his job description. And my personality is not one that can just walk up to somebody and tell them to give me their desk. Our entire team works hard, not just me.
This unsaved coworker was upset that I involved our boss. She had assured me she was not attacking me personally and I assured her that I believed her. I added that I was not attacking either because it is my way to attack problems, not people.
She came back to me a bit later (and I was glad she wanted to talk it out). She said it sounded like "I attack problems, not people" was a swipe at her, saying she was the opposite.
I told her I had already said I believed her--that she was not attacking me. I said I have used the phrase "attack problems, not people" throughout my life and it is about me, not about her at all. She repeated the phrase several more times and each time I assured her it was how I have lived my life, not an attempt to say she attacks people not problems!
I am not sure she believed me in the end, but I also have learned that sometimes when we are just doing what God calls us to do, our motives can be questioned. Sometimes people have a very suspicious nature and nothing we can do or say will reassure them. We have to leave that to God and move on.
At least she learned a new phrase. She repeated it a lot!!!
I have heard that phrase from the Fulayters in counseling classes, but also in every Christian book I have ever read on human relationships.
Attack problems, not people.
Thank you everyone for the prayers last week.
One of the sergeants on my team, knowing my dilemma, gave me *his desk on Tuesday and is going to find a new desk when we start our new schedule on Monday.
He, like me, does not believe in going to a young airman and telling them they have to move.
Already I am much more integrated into discussions than I was sitting with the contractors.
It has been a busy and productive week.
And, after a great first quarter of productivity for our team, my company gave me a letter of appreciation and a sizable gift card! So I am buying the donuts Monday! God is soooo good. He always has a better idea than we do!!!
Mary, I understand your problem. As an office manager, I learned to tell God on them. He solves the problem.
I'm going to try to remember the phrase as well as the principal