I've been pondering a lot lately just how the world seems to wiggle its way into your thoughts and your spirit and how damaging it can be. The first thing I notice is a negative change in my thinking. Then, my words start becoming affected and they become negative. Finally, my whole demeanor has changed, including my spirit and my attitude. So my question, dear readership, is this...how do you manage your involvement in the world? How do you keep yourself fully separated and keep a right spirit?
I was talking to a friend the other day who is a stay-at-home mom and she was commenting that because she's been away from "the world" for so long, there's so many things/phrases/images/ideas that she finds shocking because they are so not a part of her life. When we were talking over examples, I was saddened to realize that I didn't think anything of most of them because I'm around them at work all the time.
And for some reason, this week has proved to be a larger-than-normal challenge for me. Maybe it means that I'm not spending enough quiet time in prayer and reading. Anyway, I just feel like I'm surrounded by self-centered people who are ONLY concerned about themselves and about making sure that all of their needs are met. And this week, it's really getting to me!!! I can't get past it! Every time I look around I feel like I see something negative and full of filth and selfishness and its just been quite depressing.
So, I was hoping that you would share your ways to work through things like this. I know that we all face it because we ALL have to be a part of this world so I would like to hear from you. Does a Bible verse help you out? Does a line from a hymn? A prayer? What is it that really helps you to deal with all the junk around you so that you can focus on the good and keep a right spirit about you?
I really want to hear from you! Feel free and remain anonymous, if you'd like! I won't be offended by that. :) And thank you. Seriously. I look forward to hearing from you in the hopes that it helps me out in my own journey this week.
13 comments:
Psalm 11 and 12. To just trust that God is on his throne.
I like to listen to hymns on my ipod at work. It sure helps me!
If I really need to change my attitude, it generally helps me to write emails and/or letters. (I'm not always in the mood, of course for that.) When there were still pianos in my life, I played the piano (not an option at work, eh?). Sometimes I listen to hymns on my iPAQ... mostly, for me, it's just getting through the current (whatever it might be) bad state with minimal damage until I can have some real quiet time again. I find I can't always change my attitude on command...
Because I am fortunate enough to be at home instead of in the work force, I don't fully understand what it's like...I know sometimes the kids will be like..." you don't have a clue, Mom, the things we are exposed to", and I know it is true! But anyway, I totally think the hymns are one of the biggest helps for me in such a situation!
Maybe it's not in my personality to get riled up about the nonsense that surrounds me at work. I just seem to slide through it without letting it truly impact me.
I think some of it is perspective, because I know the reason I'm there is so different from what others have. And because work, or what ever you have, is not who I am, but rather what I do - that seems to make a difference. I center my perspective. Now sometimes that gets out of whack, but thankfully Wed night and Sunday morning's are like an chiropractic visit. They put things back into alignment.
I also think of something that became a catch phrase in our field when Gwen and Anita were here, "Nothing Matters But Salvation". So that line (and hymn) comes in handy from time to time.
Cheers though. I hope writing about it, and reading the comments from others helps. It's definitely a struggle when you're trying to keep clean in this dirty old world.
Well, it's encouraging to know that I'm not the only one who gets upset, irritated, and has a hard time keeping a right spirit in the workplace. I lose patience with not only customers but coworkers just about every day and get irritated with the rudeness and inconsideration of so many people. It's becoming a shocker when someone is actually kind and well-mannered. I am in customer service at a credit union and have become very much burned out. There are times though, when what helps the most is to just be quiet and try to remember that the world doesn't have the privilege of knowing the truth that we do...most of them really don't know any better. I try to be kind no matter what, even if all I can think in my head is that the person that I'm trying to help is very annoying. Yes, I need to change my attitude too, and not lower myself to that level. Anyhow, we do know that we're still in the race when there's a struggle. This too can be overcome, but not in our own strength.
A wise lady once quoted part of Ps 17 to me: "men of the world who have their portion in THIS life." Sometimes it seems like people out there selfishly want a lot of stuff, and they get it...but it's only for this life. And we do have something that's so much better...and eternal.
I find when I think about it, I feel sad for these people I work with...and I certainly wouldn't want to be like them, or be in their shoes. Yes, a little perspective helps...but for me, that can take a bit of time. Sometimes, I just have to endure the situation and my feelings for a while until it finally feels better!
Sorry for the long comment, but I've enjoyed thinking on this, and am glad for the other comments. Hope there will still be more!
Several years back when we lived in the big city we were talking about road rage and how people are so impatient, rude and easily upset in freeway traffic; and how easy it is to get your own ire up when someone acts that way toward you. One of our ministers was with us and he said when he sees that he just thinks "those poor people..." This has helped me many times since, not just in traffic but anytime people are rude, vulgar, selfish, etc. Just remember they do not have the wonderful help that we have. It helps me to be more compassionate.
If I'm getting a bad attitude at work, sometimes I just say a quick mental prayer that goes something like "Dear Lord help me have a better attitude because I'm sure not very successful at changing it myself." Sometimes it helps, but like others, sometimes I just have to endure the experience and get some help later.
Like others have said too, it helps me to think about their souls and to pray for them.
I actually keep my hymnbook & bible in my car. Not only do I prepare my heart in the morning, but I make time to read a verse & sing a hymn, or a line of a hymn. I find that really encourages me to remember what really matters.
I'm a stay at home mom, and really am not exposed to much at all, & even the shopping bags/tags my kids bring home tend to shock me, but I just want to say how encouraging it is to me to read your comments from everyone else! It really made me thankful just to realize (again) there are so many struggling faithful people out there, and I really do appreciate the sharing like this!!
A friend of mine says her husband sometimes sings a hymn or reads through one before he goes to work. Those words go through his head off and on all day instead of the songs your hear at work, etc. I am lucky....I get to stay home and don't have to put up with the public!
Great post! One thing that really helped change my attitude was when I found myself getting really impatient at traffic, I made it a point at every pause (red light, construction) to start giving thanks! I'd just start listing everything I was thankful for. It made a HUGE DIFFERENCE!!
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