Every Monday, my peers and I would have a collaboration meeting to discuss site happenings, upcoming projects, pending deadlines, near future events for the staff, and so on so forth. For the most part the agenda items were consistent especially when we had a lot of activity happening around the site that needed to be discussed. Every now and then the agenda would reflect a new item. Well this particular Monday, a new agenda item was added.
The agenda item was labeled as “open floor”. Open floor is where each manager would go around the room and provide any additional information about their operations. One of my peers and myself have opened requisitions to hire within our teams. Our department requires a specific skill set so we all understood that the chances of recycling applicants were inevitable.
What I mean is, if someone applied for my role chances were the applicant would apply for my peers role if there was an opening within their team. As we each took turns talking about our “open floor” item. One of my peers spoke about their requisition and the candidate pool. She stated she was still reviewing resumes and scheduling interviews. Next, I provided my updated regarding my requisition. I explained that I completed my interviews and was ready to extend an offer to an applicant; I provided that applicant name.
Everyone thought it was a great choice as many of my peers had previously worked with this applicant and had nothing but great things to say about this individual. Within the next day or so following that meeting, I met with my recruiter to extend an offer. To my surprise, the applicant declined my offer as they had accepted another offer. Well, guess who the applicant will be working for? Yes, my peer. She extended an offer to the applicant that I spoke about in the meeting. Even though she stated she was still reviewing resumes and scheduling interviews.
Yes, I was side-eyeing her. I mean how hard was it for her to pull me aside and say “hey, the same applicant applied for my role and I have already extended an offer.” Yea, not hard at all to say. Truth be told I was very annoyed with her. Its funny because in prior months she felt like I was closed off and wanted to build a relationship with me. Since that conversation things had been going great between her and I.
I thought we were moving in the right direction. Well, that relationship building moment went right out the door. I felt betrayed and that lead to me holding a silent grudge against her. I know it’s not right, but I did. Needless to say I shut down any type of “getting to know Chetoca” after that. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul counsels us to exercise self-control and respond with the fruit of the spirit; clearly, I missed that.
Those who serve God are not to be quarrelsome but instead show patience and kindness when wronged. When fight or flight response kicks in if we are not careful we tend to respond opposite of how the bible directs us. We can be consumed with standing up for ourselves. In this situation I stood up for myself by by holding a silent grudge. I know…real mature…smh.
Not Christ like at all. Please know that serving God isn’t just a Sunday thing. It’s an all the time thing. It’s easy to get caught up in an environment and act how that cultural is portraying itself in order to “fit in”. My friends we are called to a higher standard. That means we are not to conform to the world. I regret not having a conversation with my peer. Not because it would have changed the outcome or in an attempt to “call her out”, but because the word of God tells me to take a different approach.
That was a missed opportunity for me to show Christ-like qualities. I challenge each of us to begin today exhibiting Christ like qualities. We can simply begin with exercising the fruit of the Spirit as God intended. Remember, always pray for others but make sure you pray for yourself to be better stewards over God’s provisions.
Ease & Stillness,
