I had a big event that I have been involved in organizing and I have been working in collaboration with other people. What was challenging is to find the people that I have been working with to organize this event some of them have been very stressed and worried and uncertain how things will turn out. I am not like that myself I hate giving in stress! Some people get too stressed over something as if the world is coming to an end and they then make you to start thinking about it. If you are not careful enough you might also get on the swing and suddenly start seeing everything is going on wrong and will be a failure. One individual kept on bugging me how she wants things reorganized once the event is over. She has been worried and stressed and yet the event has not even taken place yet. I tried to calm her down and assure her everything will be alright but she could not believe me – the reason being because of one “past experience.” One difficulty I have is performing a task with someone who is pessimistic, stressed and worried because all these negative aspects can be contagious. A stressed, worried person keeps on talking about an issue over and over and over again. They never stop. You try to tell them to stop it but they do not get the message. When you think you have assured them and settled the issue then they will come back with their concerns and worries and don’t forget they are worried about an event that has not even taken place. They are persistent with their wants and can become pushy and annoying and this can damage the good rapport you had with such an individual.
You cannot dwell on one “past experience” that was bad and for the rest of your life always have an expectation that things will always be bad. I think that is having a bad perspective in life. It is a good thing to develop some trust because as people we are all the same but different. Not everyone hurts and not everyone hates. Some keep promises and others break promises. When it comes to public stuff there is always a need to share, but you can find that some people hold onto these things as if they were personal stuff forgetting that where we found things most probably we shall leave them there. I remember one day last year I had a meeting appointment in an office and it was a hot sunny day and I was feeling very thirsty. As I rushed for my appointment as I did not want to be late and feeling very thirsty, I requested this lady at the reception desk to give me a glass of water and described to her how I was feeling. Next to that office, I know there is a kitchenette with drinking water because I have been in that office before and it is right next to her office area. This lady refused and told me that they do not have a water fountain. She then informed me that my meeting appointment got cancelled because some people were not available. Guess what, if the meeting was still on we would have been provided with drinking water at the meeting room. I left that office, thinking how some people find it difficult even to share a glass of water when they have it – something that would cost them nothing. Just to get up, give and share something which is just there around them. When I was in primary junior school, I remember as a bunch of students during some of the hot days we could stop by a home coming from school and request for water. We used to be given water in a jug and share it from the same glass. How good it feels when your thirst has been quenched? Imagine, we shared from the same glass and never got sick and this was a regular norm as students we had developed until the school installed a water “fountain”. Today, I am living in a society that is so conscious of what they use and share with others. I know if I share from the same cup probably I might get sick as many might suggest. However, I feel there is always a need to trust and stop worrying and being stressed about other people and how things will go. It’s important to always do the right thing and at least help someone who has a need and just in case a problem arises because you helped, together we can try to fix and solve the problem.
And finally brethren, “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
Just at the right time, He will lift you up. As we think about the future, learn to give all your worries to Him and as He has promised, He will care about you, us and everyone else.