The Mufflebee's

It's been three years I've finally quit working for Mr. and Mrs. Mufflebee. It's been quite an adventure. They've definitely had a role in helping me work to raise awareness about the Taken but most of my memories of them are gray, bordering on pessimistic. But I can't be all bad. I know my mind has a tendency to remember with great clarity how people hurt me, how small they make me feel, how they don't support me and how they criticize me.

But memories are funny things. They can be manipulated. I can choose what I remember. I usually choose to remember the bad... but what if I decide to remember the good stuff instead? Maybe then I can paint layers of color in my subconscious instead of the usual gray.

So what are these good memories? What did the Mufflebee's teach me, even if it is things not to do.

1. When you're in leadership over someone come along side of them and work with them. Hopefully, this will make them feel like you are there to help them carry their burden. (Be sure to communicate you'd not helping them because they're doing a bad job).

2. Don't be an absent leader. If the person working for you can handle it give them lots of freedom, don't require them to jump through pointless hoops.

3. Being a leader over someone implies a certain amount of mentoring, not necessarily in their relationship with God or in their personal life, but definitely in their work life. Be committed to teaching and training them to work the best they can.

4. Be a positive advocate for the people working under you. Don't speak badly of them. Raise them up and support them. Even if you do get frustrated with them don't let that leak out to others through gossip or it will create distrust. Open doors for them. Speak highly to others about what they do well. Find constructive ways to work with them in areas that they need growth.

5. Be honest with your leaders as much as possible, even if they don't respond well and don't get why you're telling them this stuff. Hold yourself to a high standard and be transparent with them.

6. Don't talk poorly about your leaders and disrespect them. They are over you because God led you to be under them. God knows you have something to learn from them. If nothing else, God wants to purify out of you that very thing you find so frustrating about your leaders. Don't look to leave that difficult work place just because you don't like your leaders. Be patient and stay until God clearly leads you away.

7. Be committed to your work and to your leaders. Don't despise meetings, don't sit in the background and just get through the day. You're there because you have an important role to play. Only you can see the world the way you do. You're individuality is unique and desperately needed in order for your workplace to fulfill it's greatest potential. When you do voice your opinion or viewpoint be gracious and willing to not be heeded or told no. Don't take offense and don't assume they never want to hear from you again. In a healthy work environment your leaders know they need you and will want to hear from you. It's true that in an unhealthy environment they really may despise you but don't let that get to you. Be bold in the knowledge that you are accepted and loved by God.


I know there's more but it's really hard to dissect my experience into concise points. So much of it was just so fuzzy. Three years is a long time and I know that I resorted to surviving much of it instead of thriving. I put up with my leaders and let things be as they would be instead of working to make it better.

Would I do things differently next time? I hope so, but at this point I'm not sure what that would look like. I guess I don't really have to figure that out now because next time will look completely different. It will be a new test and will be hard in other ways. What I've learned this time around will no doubt help me next time.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Mufflebee for the role you played in my life. You provided me with so much freedom, you opened doors I could have never reached. You gave me insights into parts of the world I never imagined I would experience. You were God's appointed leaders in my life for three years. Thank you for your faithfulness.