At The Office

"Hey, it's office lunch time. Aren't you coming along?" Mike asked this afternoon. I pretended not to hear him so he kicked my chair several times.

So I feigned a sick look and he laughed, "Overcome by a sudden sickness, eh? No can do, you are still coming."

Forced thus, I dragged my relunctant feet towards the other colleagues (and yes, Alec included of course). Thank the Lord that the lunch went without a hitch! Alec and I managed to conduct some very brief but decent conversations. Phew!

Then during an after lunch office meeting, my boss mentioned something nice. He said that the company will put good-looking staff to good use by making them ambassadors for the company.

"Good-looking people such as you," he gestured at me. "And him," he pointed at Alec. My evil guess is, he's taking precautions just in case Alec made a classic remark like, "But I think I'm better looking than her!"

Anyway, isn't that just so sweet of my boss? It sure chased the Monday blues away...

Hee!

Just came back from an office lunch and boy, was it a really bad one. The food was great and so was the company - saved for one colleague - let's call him Alec. Work-wise, Alec is alright and he's a smart fellow. But when it comes to social skills... it can literally make my blood boil.

He has this tendency to compare his physical attributes with me. Like how his skin and nails are smoother lar, how he is thinner, etc, etc. At first I couldn't believe my ears when I heard his comments. What is this? Some kind of beauty contest between him and I? Anyway, this was a small thing and he probably doesn't mean what he's saying and was just trying to make some small talk. But this has been going on for weeks and today, I finally had it.

I was sitting there, enjoying the food and trying my best to zone him out when one other colleague asked if I was the youngest in the group. Normally, I would smile cheekily and give a ready, "But, of course!" or "Obviously!" but today, I just looked up with a neutral face and said nothing. In my heart, I dreaded what I know will come out of Alec's mouth. Sure enough, he said that he looked younger than me.

I got so good at zoning his voice out that I actually didn't hear what he was saying. But my boss helpfully repeated what Alec said and that's when I blew it. I told my boss, "See? I know that he would say that! He always does this!" I wasn't shouting or anything but they could see that I was riled up (a state in which they hardly ever see me in). Alec thankfully took the hint and stopped saying foolish things for the remainder of the lunch.

So, this had been a bad lunch day for me today and now, I need to think of poor Carlos who had it worse than me to get my perspectives right.

I know I shouldn't get so worked up over trivial comments like these. By all means, if he wants to think he is Miss Fair and Lovely, he can go right ahead. I guess I need to be more secure and gracious in the Lord and not take his remarks personally.

I used to think that I can get along well with everybody but I guess I was wrong. And such is my on-going trial that makes me realise that I need God's grace every single working day. And how I fall short from what I should ideally respond to Alec who was probably just trying to make some table conversation. Hope to give a better report next time.

Sigh