The Sack of Potatoes
Audio / Produced by The High CallingTranscript
A teacher instructed her students to come to class with a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person a student refused to forgive, he wrote the name and date on a potato and put it airtight in the plastic bag.
For one week, the students had to keep the bags at their sides. The potatoes quickly deteriorated to rotten, smelly slime. Naturally, the students holding the bags were unpleasant to have around.
This is Howard Butt, Jr., of Laity Lodge. The bitterness and anger we hold onto are like those potatoes—and they smell just as bad. The good news is that our rotten feelings toward others are disposable. The process is known as forgiveness—and forgiveness is essential in the high calling of our daily work.
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
The demands, pressures and stress of work can put a huge strain on relationships with our coworkers. This 4-day plan from Theology of Work Project and Workmatters provides simple steps you can take to be more loving to your coworkers that will transform those relationships and increase both joy and productivity at work.