Meetings, whether in our work, our community, our church, or on a social level, provide frequent opportunities to deal with others. But what if we dislike or don't respect some of the people we meet?
Once I had to attend a meeting I had wanted to avoid because, as a result of previous experiences, I felt I could neither trust nor respect some of the people scheduled to be there. On the way, my car broke down at the side of a little-traveled country road. With no help available, and with no knowledge of how to fix the car myself, I started to pray. As I was praying, it suddenly occurred to me, "You didn't want to go to the meeting, and now you've gotten your wish, haven't you?" It was then obvious that the underlying problem was not the mechanics of the car but my aversion to some of the people who would be at the meeting.
So I began, still seated in the car, to affirm silently the truth of man's nature and to listen to the divine Mind for guidance about what to do. A thought forcefully came to me that I should take a particular action regarding a part of the car. It was something that never would have resulted from my own reasoning, but as soon as I followed through, the mechanical problem was solved. I was able to start the car immediately, and reached my destination shortly before I needed to be there. At the meeting, all present acted on the various business issues with forthrightness and objectivity. The necessary decisions were made in an atmosphere of trust and even cordiality, without threats or manipulation.
