I was working at one of my jobs when a virus was discovered in the
computer. My boss called the people whose job it is to disinfect the
computer and I described the problem to them. They then tried to explain to
me how to rid the computer of its virus and make it all well again. They
also sent me several files to enable this process. The problem was that it
took two days to find the right file to send me. I spoke to two different
people and two mornings were filled with calls back and forth with the
company.
I am by nature an impatient person. I am also technologically challenged
and get easily frustrated by the malfunction of technological things I
don't understand like the computer. I also get frustrated when people who
are supposed to be of service to me are not, for whatever reason, being of
service. All these in combination have the same effect on me as a moving
red object has to a bull.
If the above scenario had played itself out in my home, I would have either
become rude and angry, impatient and frustrated, dissolved into tears, or
all of the above. As it was, I was representing my boss and this drama was
being enacted in front of him. My boss, in contrast to me, is very
controlled, cool, polite and efficient. I couldn't explode in front of him
and so I was forced to remain relatively calm, say `thank you' and be
patient and cooperative.
Not surprisingly, the service people reacted quite differently to me than
they usually do. They were very cordial and apologetic. The problem was
eventually solved and the computer returned to its previous state of good
health.
It occurred to me that if I could control myself for my mortal boss, should
I not make the same effort and exercise the same self restraint when I am
in the presence of the real Boss, as Rebbetzin Shain says? Shouldn't I be
just as concerned about what He thinks of my behavior, performance, and
what He overhears me saying? It is ironic that we watch our behavior when
we are in the company of certain people, yet lose all control when we're
`alone.'
We are always in the presence of Hashem. We are always, always being
watched and judged.
It pays to remember who is the real Boss.
