A number of years ago I was working for a high-tech firm in the marketing department. I worked in that department over six years. The department always had a very catty group of people who dominated everything. If they didn’t like you, you would never be recognized by the manager for a job well done. Yes, the manager was tuned into their gossip, too. This is probably one of the biggest reasons I’m very sensitive to gossip, and I really find myself opposed to people who engage in this kind of activity.

Well, recently I was watching the television show “The Apprentice” and was reminded of how catty women can be in the workplace. The week of September 26th “The Apprentice” really showed women at their worst – very catty and cruel towards their team members. I guess it woke up in me the pain of working at my former job in a catty environment. I thought I had forgiven them all and put these memories behind me, but no, there they were again, poking at and interfering in my primary thought process.

Where were these thoughts coming from? I wondered if the Universe needed me to do something in regards to these people, and so I prayed for them. Later I talked to a sympathetic girlfriend, and she told me I was just cleaning out the garbage from the past. That sounded like a good idea, so I continued meditating on forgiveness and releasing these people from my mind. You see, the memory of these people reminds me of thoughts like:

“I’m not good enough (lie)”
“I will never be accepted (lie)”
“We can control your life (lie)”
“We can make you miserable (lie)”

Then I remembered something -- something important -- a tool I could employ that would save me from the domination of all these lies. Lord, I said silently and prayerfully, I trust in you. I believe you are with me at all times. I believe that you are ultimately in charge of everything. No one can control me or my future but you. I surrender my life to you and accept your help with all things in my life.

Suddenly, as if a light were turned on, I realized I was free! All the lies fell away to the floor like discarded paperclips. The burdensome thoughts could not dominate me any longer. I was free to trust God. In summary, I guess this is what St. Paul means when he says to lift up the “shield of faith and raise the sword of truth” (paraphrased).