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After extensive searching, I could not find an existing thread related to this issue which I am having trouble with, so at the risk of this starting out like my second started thread did... here we go
I'm what some would call a gentle giant type guy. As a former college football player standing 6'3" and 250 lbs, as weird or humorous as it may seem, I really dislike conflict. I'm not a passive man by any means, I'll fight at the drop of a hat to defend people I love and what I believe in, but I tend to shrug off the little stuff. This isn't taken well by some people and seen as a sign of weakness I suppose.
I'm having some problems with guys at work. I work, for lack of a simple term, in high voltage construction. I'm on the road constantly with the same 8-10 guys. All of them being big, tough, stuck in their ways, head strong guys significantly older than me. Not many of them are believers either. They for the most part are good guys, I'm learning a lot from them and can do my job very well and safe because of their mentorship (not sure if thats a word), but there is this overwhelming vulgarity that plagues the environment I work in. Also, because I try to follow Christ, and show my love for Him and others, and stick up for what I believe when the topic of religion comes up. They see this as weakness on my part. They don't necessarily pick on me, but they do things to try to spur a reaction from me, they try to get on my nerves I guess.
My question is how do I deal with these things? From the repetitive stuff they do to get on my nerves, to speaking up on God's behalf in front of non- believers, to having to co-habitate with them on a daily basis in a vulgar, less than godly environment,and still be in line with God's will. How can I handle these situations in a way that glorifies God? Can I do that without being "ran over" by them because I'm showing love, or compassion, or not reacting the way they're trying to get me to? Is there a way to do as God asks of me, to be light in a dark world and to be the salt of the earth, and still maintain a level of respect or dignity with my coworkers?
Any advice, experience, or scripture dealing with this would be welcome.
In love and frustration,
Brennen
I'm what some would call a gentle giant type guy. As a former college football player standing 6'3" and 250 lbs, as weird or humorous as it may seem, I really dislike conflict. I'm not a passive man by any means, I'll fight at the drop of a hat to defend people I love and what I believe in, but I tend to shrug off the little stuff. This isn't taken well by some people and seen as a sign of weakness I suppose.
I'm having some problems with guys at work. I work, for lack of a simple term, in high voltage construction. I'm on the road constantly with the same 8-10 guys. All of them being big, tough, stuck in their ways, head strong guys significantly older than me. Not many of them are believers either. They for the most part are good guys, I'm learning a lot from them and can do my job very well and safe because of their mentorship (not sure if thats a word), but there is this overwhelming vulgarity that plagues the environment I work in. Also, because I try to follow Christ, and show my love for Him and others, and stick up for what I believe when the topic of religion comes up. They see this as weakness on my part. They don't necessarily pick on me, but they do things to try to spur a reaction from me, they try to get on my nerves I guess.
My question is how do I deal with these things? From the repetitive stuff they do to get on my nerves, to speaking up on God's behalf in front of non- believers, to having to co-habitate with them on a daily basis in a vulgar, less than godly environment,and still be in line with God's will. How can I handle these situations in a way that glorifies God? Can I do that without being "ran over" by them because I'm showing love, or compassion, or not reacting the way they're trying to get me to? Is there a way to do as God asks of me, to be light in a dark world and to be the salt of the earth, and still maintain a level of respect or dignity with my coworkers?
Any advice, experience, or scripture dealing with this would be welcome.
In love and frustration,
Brennen