Planets out of Alignment

Wow. I haven't had such a tough day in a long time. I knew going into it that I had a tight schedule. Multiple classes, having to come in at 10am and stay until 9pm, meetings, training sessions, almost no breathing room. There was, of course, no room for dealing with even a small problem much less a major blowup. But then, that is always when major blowups occur!

Before I had been in the building five minutes, as I was setting up for a class, a student approached me, obviously distraught. He jumped into his tirade in the middle of the information commons, not even waiting for us to step into my office for privacy. I finally managed to calm him enough to let him know that I had a class to teach and would be glad to meet with him later that day (I was wondering when that would be since I had back-to-backs the whole day). He left, and I did a quick email check as the students were getting settled in the instruction lab.

A l-o-n-g and distraught email from the evening building supervisor about the same event concerning which the student had approached me. I skimmed for the essence, then launched into the comparative virtues of the online databases we offer. In between each class I was confronted by more people involved in the incident that had occurred the previous evening around closing. This was not going to hold until my commitments ended.

Staff were being approached and beginning to bear the brunt of the tirade. I had to intervene and quickly and while I was teaching! Lord, wisdom please. I looked at my schedule. No chance to address anything until 4 after my last class - the very time I had planned to eat lunch before being on desk from 5 to 9 pm. No help for it. I began telling everyone who came to me "4 o'clock, my office."

I would not have time to prepare for the onslaught I knew was coming. Angry and upset people. Lord, show me the truth about what happened. Tell me how to address this. Amen. "Go to our main webpage. . ."

I should have known. God began dealing with people while I was teaching. He arranged for me to be able to meet with each of the injured parties separately, gave me insight as to what the real issues were, and helped me find the words to step down the emotional trauma so we could fix the problem to everyone's satisfaction.

And it was so silly. My evening building supervisor actually quit over it, tried to hand in the keys and walk away. And all over a scooter. It took me from 4 pm until 9pm to touch base with everyone, create a solution, have a meeting with all parties involved, smooth ruffled feathers, right the wrongs, help everyone to kiss and make up. All the while still fulfilling my reference responsibilities.

The important thing I took from all that was how my behavior affects others when *I* am ruffled about something. I have been known to throw a hissy fit or two in my day. I hope I remember this when I'm on the other side of the desk. Better yet, I should just pay attention to what God tells me and avoid such behavior altogether.

Well, back to work.