Issue 171
If you are part of a representative sample of the workforce, then you have a one-in-four chance of being a person who has experienced bullying at work. There seems to be something about humans that tends, when we reach a position of power, or even think we have, to use that power to harm those who are weaker – even if they are only slightly weaker. We speak of a ‘dog-eat -dog’ world. We behave as if there is some sort of barking order where the underdog is harassed, irritated or even terrorised – not by the top dog but by just the next dog up. The strange thing is that sometimes when an underdog gets promotion, he or she, in turn, makes life difficult for those lagging behind.
Bullying can take the form of unpleasant scheming or plotting, verbal abuse, threats or even physical violence. It’s not just the HR professionals, health and safety officers or occupational health specialists who talk of this problem: across the board stories of harassment in various forms emanate from groups of workers. Strangely, health professionals seem to be at high risk, with up to 28% reporting bullying in their work.
What makes someone a target? Some are victimised for being perceived to be too good – morally, ethically or by being conscientious. The upright and honourable worker may show up unpleasant working practices and provoke the bully into action. An air of vulnerability is sniffed out by the bully who senses any weakness, neediness or lack of resources to fight back.
So the strong prey on the weak, the aggressive prey on the timid or the loud lambast the quiet. What makes someone become a bully? Some are insecure, have been bullied themselves, or are downright malicious. Fear is the context and the weapon and it is very unpleasant.
David’s A-Z of life, work and everything identifies this syndrome of tyranny. He singles out the wicked who plot, gnash their teeth, draw swords and bend bows. They want to bring down or destroy those weaker than themselves. We’ve already seen this list of tactics in our description of the bully.
David identifies two consequences of such behaviour. The first is quite surprising. “The Lord”, he says “laughs at them.” You probably didn’t see that coming. ‘Gets angry’, ‘judges’, ‘resists’ may have been your guess but not laughing. Surely this is no laughing matter. The reason for the laughter is that “He knows their day is coming”. There is something ludicrous about wielding malicious power in the context of a universe governed by the Power hmself. There is something comic about one dog claiming to be the top dog or thinking they can abuse the underdog. It’s as farcical as claiming to own fireworks when the man next door has a hydrogen fusion bomb!
The second consequence is more prosaic. Such behaviour backfires. Their swords pierce their own hearts and their bows will be broken. In the end the bully diminishes himself, destroys his soul and cuts his own heart. The bitterness, malice and spite turn back to bite the very source of the aggression. It can take a while, but it will happen. Sooner or later it destroys the perpetrator. Their day is coming.
This piece is not about how you may stand up to a bully. Other pieces will look at that. David is giving us a way of seeing the bigger picture. He is pointing us to a different mental and spiritual map. Being aware of these consequences for the bully will help you navigate your way in a world where not all dogs go to heaven.
Psalm 37
1 Do not fret because of those who are evil
or be envious of those who do wrong;
2 for like the grass they will soon wither,
like green plants they will soon die away.
3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:
6 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD
and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
9 For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
10 A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
11 But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.
12 The wicked plot against the righteous
and gnash their teeth at them;
13 but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
for he knows their day is coming.
14 The wicked draw the sword
and bend the bow
to bring down the poor and needy,
to slay those whose ways are upright.
15 But their swords will pierce their own hearts,
and their bows will be broken.
16 Better the little that the righteous have
than the wealth of many wicked;
17 for the power of the wicked will be broken,
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The blameless spend their days under the LORD’s care,
and their inheritance will endure forever.
19 In times of disaster they will not wither;
in days of famine they will enjoy plenty.
20 But the wicked will perish:
Though the LORD’s enemies are like the flowers of the field,
they will be consumed, they will go up in smoke.
21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously;
22 those the LORD blesses will inherit the land,
but those he curses will be destroyed.
23 The LORD makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in him;
24 though he may stumble, he will not fall,
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25 I was young and now I am old,
yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken
or their children begging bread.
26 They are always generous and lend freely;
their children will be a blessing.
27 Turn from evil and do good;
then you will dwell in the land forever.
28 For the LORD loves the just
and will not forsake his faithful ones.
Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed;
the offspring of the wicked will perish.
29 The righteous will inherit the land
and dwell in it forever.
30 The mouths of the righteous utter wisdom,
and their tongues speak what is just.
31 The law of their God is in their hearts;
their feet do not slip.
32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous,
intent on putting them to death;
33 but the LORD will not leave them in the power of the wicked
or let them be condemned when brought to trial.
34 Hope in the LORD
and keep his way.
He will exalt you to inherit the land;
when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.
35 I have seen a wicked and ruthless man
flourishing like a luxuriant native tree,
36 but he soon passed away and was no more;
though I looked for him, he could not be found.
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
a future awaits those who seek peace.
38 But all sinners will be destroyed;
there will be no future for the wicked.
39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD;
he is their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 The LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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