I'm encouraged to participate in this November challenge with my church congregation.
Inspiring Compassion: The 30 Day Compassion Challenge. 30 days to explore the topic of compassion: Mindfulness, Compassion for Friends & Family, Self-Compassion, Compassion for All, Compassion for Our Planet.
I messed up today and I felt bad.
Tuesday is the day we work in-office. There are so many weird little things that come up that I don't anticipate, things that occur because it's the only day we see one another. So I was late for a meeting. As I swung by the conference room, I put down my mug and ran to get my computer, saying, "Sorry I'm running late. Mary shanghaied me on my way to the coffee room."
When I came back, one of my millennial coworkers was reading the Oxford definition of "shanghaied" to the room. Apparently, the 20somethings had never heard it before.
I now know why. Hearing the definition, I realize how racially insensitive it is.
It doesn't matter that I said it innocently. I was wrong.
I'm relieved that at least I got it. One of the more confusing conundrums of today's political divide is how somehow racism is equated to patriotism and Christianity. (Note that some of the people who insist on calling covid "The China Virus" are ones who insist Christ guides their lives.)
I learned. I regret. I will change my behavior. Time to move on, a little better for the experience. File this one under Self Compassion.
