I am sitting in a room in Muscatine in which I have never been before.  There are probably close to a dozen people in here and they are all sitting at their desks.  Poised to being working.  I am waiting.

And while I wait, I am hearing voices.    Well, they’re coming from people.

Each person in this room is talking.  No kidding.  No one is listening.  Everyone is talking. 

I am hearing conversations about weather, all-protein diet, and that guy from UPS who can’t read a label.  I cannot attest to whether he has a reading deficiency, but the woman at the desk is quite upset about it.

Every person is complaining. 

I am trying to keep myself restrained from standing up and asking people to all speak one at a time.  (It's how I am -- the High D (get it done) kind of person.)   The cacophony of voices in here is getting quite irritating.   Actually, I think the part that is growing tiresome is the fact that almost no one is happy.  They are all working (and I use the term “working” loosely.)   They are checking their email, two are on Facebook, one is texting her kids.  And complaining.

Five women at one desk and every mouth is moving, but no one is talking directly to anyone else.  No one is on the phone.  There are no customers at the desk.  They’re just being crabby.

It’s Friday.   You would think that alone would be enough to have people in a good mood.  Seven more hours until the weekend.   Since this is an office, I’m sure they all get to stay home for two full days.  Ah… but that’s something else to complain about.  Kids.  Laundry.  The to do list that never ends. 

You would think that at least one of these dozen people would be saying something worthwhile.  Something uplifting.  Something that is positive.  But, no.

Whatever is good… or right… or of value.    Talk about these things.    (Philippians 4:8)

Crabbiness is easier, especially when we’re in groups.  One starts talking about the bad week and pretty soon there’s some one-ups-man-ship going on.  You think your week was bad?  Well, listen to this… Before you know it the conversation had taken a decided turn.­­­­­­  To listen to the conversation you wonder why anyone bothers to get up in the morning.

Now, I have to be honest here.  I don’t hop out of bed with a smile on my face.  I don’t actually “hop.”  It’s more like slide.  With my eyes closed.   However, it doesn’t take too long before I am able to be happy and get on with my day.  The sooner I get coffee, the sooner I get happy.

I try to not talk about negative things too much during my day.  It’s why I don’t watch the news too often.  Or talk politics.  With anyone.  

But sitting in this room makes me mindful of something.  I need to watch the words that come from my mouth.  Are they words that build up and edify?  Or are they words that tear down and bring everyone around me down, too?   Obviously, people are listening, whether we know it or not.

I need to leave this place before I get crabby too.