It’s Not Your Job!
I don’t know why dogs like to smell another’s waste, but watching Stella and trying not to yank my arm off while moving her away takes a lot of energy. Nevertheless, it is a regular occurrence during our daily walks. While talking with my daughter, and discussing this awful habit, she responded, “Well, she’s learning about her surroundings.” I responded, “That’s not her job!” We both laughed. And then, I got to thinking about how each of us, from time to time, elect ourselves as the “swifter” for taking care of what the individual who made the mess refuses to acknowledge, let alone pick up after themselves. As we engage this new year and new administration, may we come to know that indeed, it is not our job, but instead, the One who is well equipped and positioned to handle all infractions. Until then, we need a different mechanism to assist.
Understandably, it’s not so simple. Of course, there are those who readily ignore the pain and difficulty of others – but I’m not setup like that. Neither am I am empath. I sit in the space of encouraging authentic ownership and “walking it out” with you. Yet for that to happen, one must first own their mess. Again, it’s not so simple, but it is a necessary path toward healing and resolution. How do we find out what our job is? First, we need to simply ask. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth (John 16:13) before we suit up in our cape. Some assignments are crafted for our engagement, others are designed for our departure. Seeking God’s wisdom to ascertain the difference is key. Sniffing around so to speak at every person’s “stuff” will only lead us on a path to which we’ve not been ordained. Let’s commit to determining what our job is and not take on another’s shift, work overtime or “call in” for someone else. After all, that’s not your job. Further, unless they follow the divine, it won’t be their job for long either.