Integrity in Your WorkplaceНамуна

The First Step In Healing

Reading

James 5:16 [MSG] Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.

Reflection

Got one of those phone calls last night. You know the type. A good friend in a distant place with a workplace problem. In a nutshell: Her supervisor shouted an obscenity at her and kicked her out of his office. She was trying to get a much-needed answer to complete a project, but he was stressed out over his own deadlines. In the resulting grievance, she discovered her supervisor did not have the capacity to apologize. After all, he viewed the problem as her fault – he was forced to be abusive because she couldn’t understand how much work he had to do.

Well, the grievance went in her favor, but her phone call centered on concerns about working with someone who is unable to say “I’m sorry.” You see, she learned something about her supervisor’s character.

I told her that apologies are essential in two situations: (1) when you’re truly wrong and (2) when you truly hurt someone’s feelings – regardless of whether you did right or wrong. I reminded her of how everyone has an unlimited supply of apologies – even in the workplace – if your apologies are authentic. And just one heartfelt “I’m sorry” is the first step in healing.

As a Christ Worker, make this your workplace practice. Confess when you make a mistake. Confess when you hurt someone. Confess to encourage the other person to confess. Confess because it shows your character – that you are a child of God.

So today at work, use as many “I’m sorry’s” as needed. (There’s a bowlful in the break room). When you run out, use your unlimited supply of “I was wrong.” (Those are in your pockets).

An apology does not remove a problem, like my friend's supervisor blaming others for his outbursts. But an apology shows character.

And it is the first step in healing.

Prayer

Father God, humble me so that I may apologize for wrongdoings or hurt feelings I might cause during this workday. Help me make the workplace whole and healed. In Your Son’s Name, I pray. Amen.

James D. Slack