Yesterday I had to do something I really loathe.  Stand on the street and collect for The Salvation Army.

It’s not The Salvation Army I loathe. If I did I wouldn’t have committed to spend my life working for God through the army (I’m an ordained minister – Officer at The Salvation Army Johnsonville.)

It’s not the people I meet that I loathe. Although more an introvert than extrovert, I enjoy saying “Hi” and having a laugh and a joke with strangers.

What I hate is asking people for money! There always seems to be worthy charities asking for cash.  When I walk past them and don’t give (I often have literally no money in my wallet anymore due to EFT-POS and other forms of electronic banking) I feel awkward and embarrassed.

I don’t like making others feel the same way.

While I was there I tweeted that I was doing something I disliked and Michael Sampson tweeted straight back:

Re-frame it then … you are there to *give* cheer, a smile, and an encouraging word for the weekend to come. All else is extra.

Ahh.  Gently and nicely Michael was prompting me to make an attitude adjustment.

He was so right.  I’d gone in with a stink attitude and so I was doing a stink job!  I forgot the collection aspect and just started giving of myself to the people who passed by.

• I enjoyed it more (lots);
• They seemed to enjoy the interaction; and
• As a by-product a lot more people gave.

How often do I say that attitude is what I look for in people.  Thanks Michael for reminding me about the plank in my eye!

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