Meditation on Ps 119:23-24

These verses read: "Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors."

Since taking up the role of acting manager at the office, I've had to face the reality of office politics in a much more concrete way than before when I was an executive. I've been tempted often to perceive colleagues/superiors' actions as being prejudiced or skewed. When I started meditating on the recommended list last Thursday morning, these verses hit me just at the right time.

Of course, my situation wasn't as dire as having "princes" plot against me - but it did seem as if people who had influence over my career were working against my favour. So these verses comforted me, and reminded me that there is a higher ultimate authority to which I'm answerable above all else, that it is His opinion that counts above all and it is His power that puts the earthly authorities in their place. I know some of you will have "enemies" in the office. But this reminded me that Jesus taught us to LOVE OUR ENEMIES because at the end of the day, they're NOT our enemy - our ultimate enemy is satan and the ones we think are our enemies are as much under satan's yoke as we are. So, since we're ALL in the same boat, we should encourage and love each other - even the ones who plot against us.

Reflecting on office politics, this is where I'm convinced that there are principalities and powers above/within/underlying the whole organisation. 99% of people in the office are not evil. In fact, they're created good but have a fallen nature. Somehow, the way organisations are structured, people are often put in a position which brings out their fallen-ness. When this is widespread throughout the organisation, it seems to create a culture that takes on a life of its own. So people start behaving in ways they would never have dreamt off when joining. That's why I think we need to be generous towards "difficult" colleagues - remind ourselves that we all (in general) want what's best for the organisation. Just that we disagree on how it should be achieved.

Ps 119:23&24 also reminded me that having His word & His law written in our hearts is the only way we are going to deal with our sticky situations. It's only as we breathe in His words & have them brought alive by the Holy Spirit as we meditate daily, only then will be able to build the sort of characters that will respond neither with violence nor building walls - but to reach out in vulnerability, to reach out for reconciliation.