Sometimes my coworker friends and I live on the edge at work. When things aren’t right we may get to snapping back at each other, honking the car horn at folks during our lunch ride to our favorite restaurant or negatively putting in our 2 cents on a hot topic subject of management, changes or policy. Sometime it feels good enough just to get it off our chest and tell the person who upset us exactly how we feel. Other times it doesn’t feel that good. There’s nothing wrong with being direct and honest with others but I have learned two words for when we are easily offended and take things to personally. Those words are simply this: SLOW DOWN. In order to live on pitch we must not be so quick to take offense. It takes practice, but my friends and I are learning and pushing each other by asking the question out loud who or what are we attacking? When we slow down we are able to ask more important questions like how can we react without attacking? We can learn to slow down by not pretending or defending with harsh words, eye rolls and side eyes. A gentle reminder goes a long way. I thank God for those friends and co workers who help me strive to live on pitch. Work life can knock us off our feet and catch us off guard but God is our Helper. What are some warning signs that show up when you’re offended by others?
I walked in my office on Monday morning ready for the week. I prayed and I was prepared for my church’s Prayer Marathon week. My conversations with God were strategically planned with targets of prayer. I was excited and War Room ready. Bible? Check. Prayer closet? check. Then it hit me. A mountain of work, a mountain of problems and situations. I couldn’t get it together. My prayers were cut short, my quiet time got loud, A “Lord help” here, and a “thank You Jesus” there was all I could get out at times. I didn’t know how I was going to get over, around or move this mountain of work. That was Monday. By Wednesday I could tell it was going to get even more interesting. It’s now Friday and I still have plenty of work on my desk but I’ve learned to keep prayer as a priority. As the old Hymn says, I must tell Jesus all of my trials. My favorite part is the refrain which says: I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! I cannot bear these burdens alone; I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus! Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.![Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. [1 Thessalonians 5:16-18]:](https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/cf/46/1f/cf461f2e46c93cba51530fde3e972321.jpg)
The two words on the form said fully meets. My performance review was done and it said I was fully meeting the goals of the department and those I set for myself. One quick moment of rejoicing led to another moment of self-reflection and a little more of a reality check. I began to think Lord am I fully meeting your standards? Am I doing the kingdom work that is required of me? I’m going to church, staying active in ministry, trying to serve others, I think I have it right but I really don’t. I know I don’t always measure up and I know I can do better. My ratings on taming my tongue, procrastination and bible study alone can easily knock me down from thinking I’m something that I’m not. Add in fasting and praying and I’m in no better position to fully meet or measure up to any spiritual standards. So I say a quick prayer and ask the Lord to help me live purposefully on pitch. I ask Him to guide me , help me guard my mind, heart and life to fully meet what He requires. Thank God for His grace and mercy which fully meets me at the point of my need. The grace of God is sufficient and still amazing. I am once again reminded that without God I can do nothing and without Him I would surely fail.
Living On Pitch 