Pride is easily awakened in conflict

Wednesday’s Word

I had just hung up the phone and as I replayed the conversation in my head, the truth seeped into my heart. I knew what I had to do.
 
Thanks for joining us for Wednesday’s Word with Kim-Evinda and Trench Classes United. Today’s word aims straight for the heart bathed in love.
 
In 30 years, I had never been asked to change a transcript to reflect what the witness thought he said, and certainly not by his/her attorney. I was split between pride and disbelief; pride because I couldn’t believe I had made that many errors and disbelief because I thought what she was asking me to do went against the Code of Civil Procedure.
 
According to the attorney whom I had just gotten off the phone with, there were many words that needed to be changed to reflect what she felt her client had said, “albeit I know my client has a thick accent, I think you misheard him and there are numerous times.”
 
I heard her, but unfortunately my first response was to defend myself, boasting of 30+ years of court reporting experience, and then his accent and finally, the fact that I had to strain to hear this guy through Zoom proceedings. I mean, seriously?!! The guy’s accent was thicker than peanut butter, and yet, if I’m honest with myself – which I always try to be – I was a bit sharp and indignant in my attitude toward this attorney.
 
I called my agency owner, explained the situation and he suggested that I could do an affidavit reflecting the changes as “hearing errors.”
 
When I hung up from my conversation with him, I knew what I had to do: set pride aside and apologize… so I did. I explained that I had called the agency owner and asked for directions on how to handle this situation because this had never happened to me before. I offered to take a look at her suggested changes with the understanding that the best I could do is give an affidavit stating they were hearing errors. I then went on to apologize for my intensity and attitude. Talk about a temperature change! The whole aura went from hot and frustrated to cool and compassionate.
 
Owning our part in a conflict can feel a bit like scratching sand paper… completely uncomfortable, and yet the sooner we do it, the better we’ll feel and the more we do it the easier it will be to avoid having to do it in the first place!
 
There really is profound truth found in the scripture, “pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 16:18
 
Friend, I speak with too much experience in this but not enough to stop learning: avoid the fall by standing tall and taking the high road… owning our part, so we can leave it behind with a smile in our heart.

Blessings,
​Kim-Evinda

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