The pace of the conversation began to heat up. My bewilderment at a manager's illogical position began to show. I am sure that my tone increasingly took on an air of sarcasm and aggressiveness. Her confusion began to show and I began to work the edges of the disagreement. Then came a moment of revelation.
“Do you actually understand the sequence of events?”
“No, not really. I have repeated ask for anyone to document it for me.”
“Would you like me to send you a chronology in the next two minutes?”
“Do you have that?”
“Yes.”
“Please!”
Her logic took on a new perspective. Without the chronology, her focus was only on the relationship with the client, protecting the corporation was secondary because there was no evidence that we behaved within the boundaries of our contractual commitment. We could argue and debate all day and nothing was going to persuade her to change her position. If we were going to move forward, I was going to need to understand the situation from her perspective.
Sharing steps with others on a journey is a difficult proposition to realize. We assume we know why others are taking their steps. We carry our burdens and fears for others out in the open, acting on them without even thinking. Their choices reflect their views of God, or so we assume. We know where they are at risk and it is our duty to keep them on the right path, right?
The answer is a clear maybe, or then again, maybe not.
A wise one counseled us to not “jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with – even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department.” (Romans 14.1)
Letting go of setting the pace and direction is difficult. Trusting that God will do his job – working grace, mercy, and power out in their lives – and focusing on my job is difficult. My job is clear, supporting others on their journey. God is our source of power.
