In Chapter 2 of Let It Go, Bishop T. D. Jakes shares his realization, gained through a painful personal experience, that “sometimes the greatest opportunities are hidden in the deepest moments of offense. If you aren’t strong enough to check your emotions, you can miss a great opportunity. . . .”
For years after my downsizing, I had great difficulty dealing with an individual I perceived had the power or influence to overturn the decision to release me. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that I saw that person in church every Sunday, where I continue to maintain my organist position even though that church was one of three association churches that sponsored the school where I taught. However, as Crown of Compassion Ministries began to take shape, my bitterness and anger softened. Today I can greet that person with a handshake and a warm smile and really mean it!
Even if an offense doesn’t produce such drastic change, Bishop Jakes reminds us that “offenses can be chances for character development and a true thermometer for maturity development.
