The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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The Church Of The Holy Rood -- Wool, Dorset, U.K.
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From The Revd Rhona Floate, The Vicarage, Wool, 01929 462215 Criticism and EncouragementThis year has been marked by a great deal of criticism of various groups of people: Locally, those conducting the Purbeck Schools Review have been much criticized. Nationally, bankers and politicians have been blamed for the current financial crisis and recession. Criticism of MPs’ dubious expenses claims dominated the press during May and June. Criticism which is just and fair is a necessary part of our lives. Offered in the right way, it can help us to see things in a different light. It can enable us to make changes to systems or behaviours that are unhelpful or wrong. The results can be very positive. But there comes a point when criticism no longer helps either society or individuals. Instead it can become corrosive as I discovered at firsthand some years ago. The organisation for which I worked was going through a very painful period of re-structuring and the management team came in for much criticism. The longer this went on the more negative the workplace became. Criticism of everyone and everything was becoming the norm. We realized we had to change from a culture of criticism to a culture of encouragement. We recognized that everyone, management included, needed encouragement in order to achieve the best possible outcomes in less than ideal circumstances. The atmosphere began to change and people began to work together more effectively as they learned to encourage one another. A culture of encouragement does not gloss over mistakes or wrong-doing, but ensures we recognize the positives as well and build on those. It develops partnerships between people to help put things right and make things work better. Encouragement is at the heart of the Christian faith. We recognize our shortcomings and enlist the help of God and others to deal with them. Encouragement is listed as one of the gifts of the Spirit that God gives to the church (Romans 12:8) and so I join with the apostle Paul in his prayer: “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another …” (Romans 15:5). Your friend and parish priest,
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