TIME magazine would label the summer of 2002 as the “Summer of Mistrust” and would report that “Most Americans  ̶ 72% in the Time/CNN poll  ̶  fear that they were not a few isolated cases but a pattern of deception by a large number of companies (Nancy Gibbs, “Summer of Mistrust,” ​Time, July 22, 2002).  

In today’s society, more people seem more interested in juicy gossip than they are interested in truth, trust or respect for others.  Tabloids are still popular in supermarkets because people want to consume “dirt” about celebrities.  Co-workers in a company gossip about each other to try to get an edge, demean others for their own benefit, and appear as a source of salacious tidbits that seemingly lift people out of the humdrum of mundane daily life.  Even people at churches spread gossip about other churchgoers, turning prayer requests into fuel for gossip.

Arrogance is ugly, deceptive, isolating, destructive and something that evidently does not sit well with the Creator of the universe.  People don’t warm up to arrogant people, in general.  Arrogance creates a separation between people.  It makes the person believe he/she is so special that he/she is above everyone else, even though it is not true because God created everyone equal.  Arrogance leads a person to be condescending to others, to have a “diva” attitude, to have a sense of entitlement and to think of himself/herself as God, with power, prestige and/or wealth or simply something that seems superior.

“Now it is time to forgive him and comfort him.  Otherwise, he may become so discouraged that he won’t be able to recover.  Now show him that you still love him.” (2 Corinthians 2: 7-8) 

I hope that we stop and think about all the implications of not being merciful to our colleagues and only worrying about the bottom line. I firmly believe that when we show mercy, God shows us mercy. When we let our colleagues know that when they make a mistake is only money, and we are a merciful boss, leader; our employees always respond with greater enthusiasm and dedication.  

For the early church, their Messiah was not coming like King David in a warrior’s horse to win some political war and liberate them from the Romans. He was coming sitting on a donkey to die for them and expect them to die for others. So revolutionary was the thought that many who followed him left him. Yet, this revolutionary act would change the course of humanity. 

To whom have you been merciful recently? Can you also think of a time when you reacted in anger and outrage but could have been merciful? How would a merciful response have changed the outcome? 

Coming Clean in the Workplace: Mindful of Moral Principles and Business Ethics.Coming Clean in the Workplace: Mindful of Moral Principles and Business Ethics.