Several years ago I was having a hallway chat with one of my co-workers. I can’t remember the topic of discussion, but I do remember one thing about the conversation. He said, “Tony, you are like a velvet brick. You say what needs to be said, but you do it in a way that softens the blow.”
He was right. I do have opinions, and I’m not afraid to share them. And it highlighted the tension that I constantly wrestle with to balance grace and truth. My bent is toward truth. I want the best for people, but sometimes my discernment gifts get the better of my limited supply of mercy.
By the way, we all have a bent. Some of us lean more toward grace. We’ll give people second and third and fourth chances. We see the best in situations. We’re optimistic about our futures.
Others lean more toward truth. We’re more cognizant of people’s strengths and weaknesses. We see the reality of the situation. We’re probably more intentional rather than hopeful of what needs to happen for vision to become reality.
Because we all have a bent, we need each other. It’s another example of the power of the body of Christ. We all come with different gifts and experiences. We each have a unique wiring that defines our proclivity to respond to people, situations and decisions in different ways. It’s one more reason why the team outperforms the individual every time.
And, by the way, that’s God’s design. If it’s all about me, it’s not about him. We need each other.
Photo Credit: Studiobaker via Compfight cc
