A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger. Proverbs 15:1
Clump, clump, clump went the machine as it flung out shampoo bottles. Hair and Body Shampoo was the number one shampoo on the market. It made ten-million more yearly than its nearest competitor. Supervisors pressured line workers to get out get out as much product as possible. Sam and Ed and others had half of a second to get a six bottles into a box. If they didn’t keep up bottles would jam the machine.
Sam and Ed have been best friends from the time they were small children. They went to the same church and both sang in the choir.
Working under pressure can bring out the real person in anyone. Sam was concerned about Ed’s on the job behavior but didn’t know how to tell him. His friend seemed to blow up more and more easily and used profanity when the blowups occurred.
Ed grabbed the bottles, throwing them into the box as usual. However, this time the carton ripped.
Angry he yelled “G……D ..…”
Not able to take anymore, Sam turned and got into Ed’s face, “Hey! Don’t ever let me hear you say those words again,” he snapped.
Ed shook his fist at Sam, “You can’t tell me how to live my life!”
Hands oh hips, Sam leaned towards Ed. “I don’t care; I am tired of listening to you. I don’t need to hear you profane the name of our Lord Jesus.”
“That’s your problem. This is a free country, and I can say what I want.” as Ed hurled the ripped box to the floor.
Their supervisor suddenly appeared from nowhere. Stepping between the disgruntled men he warned, “You need to get back to work and settle this dispute later, or you both will be fired.”
Later that day, Sam sat by himself at lunch. He knew what he had said to Ed was right, but his anger was inappropriate. He knew he needed to talk to his friend about the problem but was confused about how to approach him. Glancing around the room, he saw Ed was eating lunch alone.
The wheels were spinning in Sam’s head. How can I help Ed? Should I go and talk to him now? Chewing his food slowly, he tried to sort his thoughts out. He threw this fork down once and almost got up to join Ed at the table. Then he shook his head and grabbed a little more of his spaghetti. Finishing his lunch and he returned to work.
When their shift was over Sam waited for Ed outside the building. When he saw Ed walking to his car, Sam sprinted across the parking lot toward him.
‘Hey Ed!”
Ed didn‘t look up and continued rushing toward his parking spot. “Sam, don‘t talk to me.”
Sam tried to keep pace with Ed as they walked. “Ed, I am sorry I blew up at you. My actions were inappropriate. Please forgive me.”
Ed turned his head and glared at Sam as they walked. “Get lost.”
“Ed, we have been friends for years. I care about you, and I care about your spiritual life.”
Ed shoulders slumped forward. Arriving at his car, unlocked his door. “Just give me a few days, Ok.”
“Ok. Let’s meet for breakfast on Saturday,” suggested Sam.
Ed climbed into his car and turned to look into Sam‘s eyes. “I’ll think about it.”
“I’ll buy,” shouted Sam as Ed started his car and backed out of his parking place.
********************
Friday night after their shift. Sam climbed into and was startled when someone knocked on his window. It was Ed! “How about breakfast tomorrow morning at six at Susie’s Diner?”
Sam smiled. “That would be fine.”
“See you tomorrow.” as Ed walked off.
**********************
Saturday morning both men met at Susie‘s. Both men ordered and then sat in silence as they sipped the hot coffee and waited for their breakfast.
Finally Sam broke the silence. Hunched over the table, he said softly. “Ed, again I am sorry for how I acted. You might find it interesting to know I used to have a profanity problem. I was so embarrassed by my actions, I started to read through the Bible a few chapters a day. I asked the Lord to forgive me and pleaded with him to my profanity problem away. Eventually, after many prayers, the Lord gave me the strength to stop swearing. I know that he can do the same for you.”
A sad look came over Ed’s face as he hung his head. “Sam, you’re right. I am sorry for the way I acted.”
Ed ripped open a sugar packet and poured out the crystals into his coffee. He seemed deep in though as he distractedly stirred his brew. Then he looked into Sam’s eyes and confessed, “This has been a problem for a long time. I know I can’t talk that way be a Christian witness.”
Their breakfast arrived. Cutting up his waffle Sam replied, “Our Lord is powerful. There is nothing he cannot do. He can help you change, if you ask him. He may do it right away or it may be a process you have to go through.”
Ed peered into Sam’s eyes. “You say all I need to do is ask?”
Sam, about to shovel a large bite of waffle into his mouth, stopped midstream and placed the fork back on his plate. “Just go to him in prayer. Ask him to help you stop swearing. Ask him to show you what you need to do.”
Looking perplexed, Ed responded, “I don’t understand.”
“As God’s children, we are all different. God works in various ways in different situations. He may want you to go to counseling, or he may want you to have an accountability partner. He may just take the problem away without other people’s help.”
Mulling over Sam‘s words, Ed simply said, “OK.”
“What you need to do is get alone with God and pray. If you want an accountability partner, I would be happy to volunteer.”
Ed stared at Sam for a second and then said, “OK, I will consider that.”
Looking straight into Ed’s eyes, Sam asked, “Are you willing to get alone with the Lord and ask him for help?”
Ed fidgeted a bit and said, “I don’t know. I just don’t know.” as he put his hands down on table.
“Remember the other day? We both could have lost our jobs. We could be on the street because of our actions. But something else is even more important than losing a job. As Christians, we need to be a good witnesses everywhere you go.”
With a deep sigh, Ed responded, “OK, I will pray about it. I will also consider having you as an accountability partner.”
Smiling, Sam said, “Good, Ed, the Lord can change your life. You don’t have to live the way you have been.”
*******************
A few weeks later Ed another box fell apart when Ed put the bottles in. He set the bottles aside and quickly grabbed a new box. This time he took everything in stride and didn‘t say a word.
Later during their lunch break, Sam found a table and sat by himself.
Ed approached him. “Sam, could I join you?”
Sam looked up and smiled at Ed. “Sure thing, Ed. I would love to have lunch with you.”
Ed put his plate on the on the table and sat down. “Sam, I have prayed about what you said, and I feel the Lord has changed me. After all, look at what happened today. We had stressful morning, and I handled calmly.”
Chuckling, Sam said, “Yes you did. I want to tell you that I am proud of you.”
With a serious look on his face, Ed said, “I need one more favor from you,”
Swallowing a bite out of his sandwich, Sam answered, “Sure, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Nervously, Ed sipped on his water. Carefully setting down his glass of water down, he said, “I want to take you up on this accountability thing.”
“Ok,” Sam smiled.
“I would like to meet once a week and talk about how I have done,” said Ed.
“I like that idea.” Sam gave him a thumbs up.
With a rush of words, Ed added, “I would also like to pray during our time.”
“How are your Saturday mornings?” queried Sam.
Ed paused for a second. “That would be fine, although it would need to be early-like about 6:00.”
“That sounds good. Would you like me to pray for you right now?”
Ed face lit up. “Yes, that would be great.”
The men began to meet every Saturday morning. The Lord used Sam to change Ed’s life. The two men became wonderful Christian witnesses on the job.
Profanity can hurt our Christian witness. If you agree or disagree let’s talk. Email me at kenswalkthewalk@gmail.com