Building relationships and mending fences

From cradle to grave, a man survives through relationships. No man is self-sufficient and is able to survive alone. In fact, from the moment of conception, a man, in the form of a fetus, relies on a healthy relationship with his mother who provides for all his needs inside her womb. If the mother is unhealthy or moody, miscarriages will result. Nowadays, with more knowledge and higher living standard, mothers can afford to nurture their fetus with the music of Mozart to improve its IQ and EQ until it comes to term.

Man is born immaturely because his brain will be too big to go through the vagina of his mother. Once born, this helpless creature will go through a long period of dependence to develop its flexible brain to meet the challenges in the future. There are family members, classmates, teachers and peers to accompany his growth until he ventures into the society. His network will expand and he will spend more than 40 years with his colleagues, his wife and children. Some men are successful and others may lead a life of disasters. Some are able to fully realize their potentials while others have theirs buried and even bring down the house. It all depends on relationships. So, how can you afford to antagonize most of your subordinates?

For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day (John 6:40)
You were baptized to Jesus. You have worked hard to earn a PhD. You believe in Jesus. How do you translate this belief into eternal life? Can faith alone without work guarantee you an eternal life? You believe in Jesus who reconciles us to God. Will you not do the same to reconcile with your subordinates? You believe in Jesus who descended from heaven to become a carpenter and died on the cross to wipe out our sins. Will you not do the same to lower your pride and reach out to your subordinates and wipe out disputes and conflicts between you and them? You believe in Jesus who empowered his disciples to build up the Church. Will you not empower your subordinates to think in higher level, to work as a team and serve our students in a smarter way? Jesus has offered us many examples to do God's will and to relate with our fellow men. He knows our strengths and weakenesses. He has taken the initiative and invites us to carry our crosses to follow him. When will you wake up, carry your cross and emerge from your comfortable office?

My sweet Jesus, I pray for my boss. You have crowned him with a PhD. May You awake him from his slumber and work for Your greater glory in his remaining days. Grant us Your peace so that we may work in fellowship to bear witness to our students so that they may share Your eternal blessings, forever and ever. Amen.