Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

There are times when we do some things quietly to minimize the hurt. We should, however, decide whose hurt we are minimizing.

Someone has made too many mistakes. We are dismissing the mistake maker. Let’s do it quietly to minimize the embarrassment and hurt of the mistake maker.

Well, there is no “we” or “us” here. It is ME. I am dismissing the mistake maker. Am I minimizing the embarrassment and hurt of the mistake maker or the embarrassment and hurt of me?

And what about everyone else here? What will they hear and see? What will they take in? How will they react? What about their embarrassment and hurt? This isn’t easy. This isn’t supposed to be easy.

Yes, “we” want to hurt folks less, but which folks? Me, the mistake maker, or everyone here?
Sometimes some hurt is inevitable and necessary. Let’s be careful and let’s do better.