I sometimes say that I have Meerkat syndrome. Sitting upright, wide eyed and looking around, eyes darting in assorted direction. Point me in the right direction and off we go.
Lately I feel like I am playing swingball..... only I am the ball.... and there are some very hard plastic bats taking swipes at me.... sometimes they miss and sometimes I get right hooked. Only with more than one player in the game... the concept of turn the other cheek comes into play and both sides of my face are smarting.
So to continue with my random thoughts... What happens in swingball if someone thinks they have won.... you reset... and it starts over... and next time the game play might turn out differently.
Swingball is a great way to vent your frustration....but if we do that to people that is an altogether different matter.
Work places have an organisational culture... Some are good and build you up and some are a bed of bullying that tear you down.
Like many news items of the day there is a surge of people starting to speak out about behaviour that is wrong and inappropriate. Celebrities, Models, athletes are all finding a voice to things that have been kept under wraps. We have seen how hundreds of women have spoken out in court.
Actions that people take either intentionally or accidentally can leave a scar.
Sometimes physical, sometimes mental or emotional.
One job I had was in a Sports store. That had a very interesting assistant manager, who had some very unconventional ways of treating staff. If something was out of place at the end of the night, he might take the entire rail of clothes and throw it on the floor. One night he did this to every rail where the sizing was out of place, made the staff watch and then ordered them to pick it up and do it again.
He then locked the doors and said no one would leave until he was satisfied.
There were some young staff members in the store who were shaken and did not know what to do.
I was in my mid 20s.... I also don't like bullies. So I calmly told the manager that under EU workplace directive I would give him 20 mins of goodwill to help him tidy his mess. I then said my husband is sitting outside waiting for me and if he did not open the doors at that point I would call the police and let them know that I was being held against my will.... Unsurprisingly the doors were unlocked and all the staff were allowed to leave.
I have often wondered how long it took for him to tidy the store that night
The next day, I went to the manager and gently explained that his assistant was less than professional the night before. (We all knew that he had been arguing with his girlfriend, a store supervisor, and his anger was taken out on the rest of the staff.)
I am quite an accommodating person. If I am treated with respect and asked nicely (and if I am able) I will go the extra mile...come in early or work on my day off if something crops up that needs my attention.
I don't like it when people appear to not respect you. Manners and courtesy don't cost.
When I told the above story to a class of community workers, one person piped up "but that is a common place sports store culture"
Having never worked in a sports store before I was unaware that was the case... My answer was simple... It is not right, why is it allowed. People are too frightened to speak up as they fear they will lose their job.
Community workers help to empower people, they advocate, champion, encourage and build people up. They stand up and be a voice for the voiceless. That can be a hard thing to do. It can be seen as challenging authority and if the organisation is big enough, I am sure they can make things very awkward. Some people give up for they sake of their sanity. Some people whistleblow and end up on Panaroma or at the more extreme cases.... in exile. There can be a cost to speaking out or challenging wrong behaviours.
I see the value in every person... even the ones that are broken or outcast.
One bad move in life or even a few can find you on a course that you never planned... and the exit is not easy to find.
Recently during Street Pastors I found myself getting hugged by a man who was begging. I had just said how precious he was to God. (I am not always so forthright on the street) but he hugged and hugged me.... until it became slightly uncomfortable for me if I am honest.... then as I finally managed to break the hold he whispered " Thank you" "I can't remember when someone was willing to hold me, they think badly of me instead" My thoughts of discomfort melted away as God showed me his heart of compassion for the man.
Thankfully, there is a God that will always be there, unconditionally no matter who you are.
Life is full of such interactions.... and sadly it is all to easy to miss the important interactions of the day... as we have made ourselves too busy to see what is clearly in front of us.
