Which are you?

It’s my turn

I’ve never lost interest in reading about human dynamics especially in groups, organizations, homes and workplaces. One of the interesting ones I read (I can’t remember the source or author, my apologies) but it talked about drivers, passengers and flat tires in workplaces. But I’d say you can find these types of people anywhere. You may want to check who you are, too.

So the article wrote that there are DRIVER-type of people.

They exude positive vibes, smile easily   and make eye-contact with other people. They talk only about positive stuff and  don’t bring their personal problems to work. They treat everyone as important.

Then there are the PASSENGERS.

They are pleasant and get along with others but only when someone initiates the move. They do their jobs and clock out at the end of the day. They don’t bring negativity but they also don’t do much to be vibrant. They engage in small talk but keep it brief. They are simply there if you need them but they don’t exert effort to make their presence felt by other people.

The FLAT TIRES are almost entirely focused on themselves. They don’t see any real point in engaging with others. For them, it’s not important to smile or be kind.

They treat the working people in society as servants. They don’t care about behaving well and making other happy.

So who are you? The vibrant driver, the passive passenger or the useless tire?

It is sad that the world is not made wholly of  DRIVERS. But reality shows us that we all have to deal with different personalities.

DRIVERS are more often treated well and stand  a better chance to be granted favors because of their positive attitude. PASSENGERS may succeed but they don’t progress as quickly as they would like. FLAT TIRES are the first to escape when the going gets rough. Do you think they can progress fast enough?

I remember writing an article about “sandpaper” people. Like sandpaper, they can really be rough and hurting to us. They make our lives difficult. They make our day turn sour. They are just so hard to deal with.

But who said this is a perfect world?

Even in the time of our Lord Jesus, He was surrounded by drivers, passengers and flat tires as well. But He loved them all. Even while gasping for breath on the cross, He still got to tell God to “forgive for they know not what they do.”

We cannot choose our family or coworkers  or who we want to be our neighbors. And if we want to be a DRIVER, we need to know how to live harmoniously with anyone.

“To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted and humble in spirit…”  (1 Peter 3:8 )
Jesus is the ultimate DRIVER — loving, forgiving and a positive force. He should drive our lives so we can be like Him. With Him, we cannot and will not become just PASSENGERS and worse, FLAT TIRES.

So which are you ?

Write down all the  things we’ve done in the last two months that made the lives of other people better, happier and positive. If the list is long, we’re DRIVERS. If not, or if we have a hard time writing, well…

But the best way to be a DRIVER is to emulate St. Paul. He was able to overcome his ordeals and became an inspiring saint to all of us. He told the people of Philippi, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Phi 4:8).

In this season of Lent, we can ask God to change our hearts so we can make our list even longer.
Then we can be the DRIVER that God wants us to be.