Build a Bridge of Respect

We’ve all been there. We are at work and are engaged in conversation about ethics, morals, or judgment in a tough situation and our tongues stick to the top of our mouths and we remain silent.

These are the times when our workplace needs us. It needs our wisdom, our insight, and our perspective. Given the worldview we have, we are built for these situations. But we shirk. We stop short. We are silent.

Chris Patton, who writes at Christian Faith at Work has a great post on relationships and how they are the most important thing – even more important than our words.

He gives the example of Daniel in the Old Testament. He was in an hostile workplace where his faith was not welcomed – even landing him in a prison. And yet, he was able to build relationships that respected his faith.

He persuaded the king’s official to allow him and his three friends to eat a meal different from the unclean food that the king’s court partook in. He didn’t rail against eaten cloven hoofed animals. He didn’t protest the bacon wrapped shrimp. He simply took another path.

“Daniel was not seen walking around the king’s palace with a bull horn, screaming about the injustices of having to eat something that conflicted with his Christian faith,” writes Chris. “He did not raise a stink by filing a petition with the king.Neither was he seen silently sulking about his predicament. He did not whine about it or make excuses about why he could not be intentional or proactive about his faith!”

Chris encourages us to build relationships through trusting God, doing our jobs better than anyone else, and reaching out to others with respect.

Read the rest of his article, Are you a Bridge Builder of Relationships?