Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday March 2, 2010
I heard a cute story framed in an otherwise sad setting. It seems that after 70 years of marital bliss the Lord had swooped down and carried the Mrs. home to glory. At least this was the hope. After a few days of mourning and family reunion it came time to carry the "mere mortal remains" down to the grave. As the casket was being lowered a severe storm suddenly inundated the gathering with torrential rain. This rain was accompanied with loud thunder and cloud to earth lighting. At the peak of the storm the hubby was heard to remark, "Well, she's arrived."

We all know people who seem to carry their storm with them. Each time they walk into a room a storm of some sort breaks out. This malady affects men and women in all areas of life. Concerning this phenomenon John A Hanna wrote:

"The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and influence their actions. A chip on the shoulder is too heavy a piece of baggage to carry through life."

Life is a lot like the game we kids used to play when a fight was brewing. You may have played a similar one. As the arguing heated up, one person would place a chip of wood on his shoulder and boldly command, "Go ahead, knock it off." Usually some lame brain would make a move on the boy's chipped shoulder and then the fight would ensue. I learned early on to knock the chip off with a real good shot to the jaw. (My older sister taught me this tactic). That usually ended the argument and of course the chip was lying on the ground. And of course I was on my way to the principal's office. Again. (Please understand that although I was not a born again boy, I did engage in this playground activity prayerfully).

The lower level bosses and family member/bosses who are stuck at the current level can be traced to an inability to get along with people who are above them, lateral to them or serve at a lower level. Upper management wonders, "How can I get rid of…?" This thought permeates the entire organization whether it be family, business or even church.

Earl Nightingale often taught his students the importance of inviting dead wood to float elsewhere, keeping in mind that chips are definitely considered dead wood.

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 21:9:

"It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house."

He repeated this advice in Pr. 25:24. It is good advice whether "brawling person" is male or female. There is no good place to be with the person who has the chippy shoulder.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2010 Use with credit

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