Part XXXI – Unlikely Teachers

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.

~ Mark Twain

Finale

“But the chances that this caterer and I would cross paths twice in the same time frame and especially after what had transpired – that was definitely unusual and very synchronistic.”

“And now the Universe was handing me the decision to hire her or not for a different client.”

So, have you been wondering what my decision was with respect to the caterer in question?

I cannot tell you exactly what motivated my decision at that time, but looking back in retrospect, I believe there were several factors that were involved, even if I was not consciously aware of them all. I had already learned that the Universe will often dictate its guidance silently, with a subtle whisper. I made my decision, no doubt, based on that whisper, but I can now look back and see the larger vision and the lesson that I was to learn.

From a conscious standpoint, here are some thoughts that enter my mind now as I revisit the scenario:

My new client’s desire was for me to use that caterer. What was more important - my ego and previous experience and opinion of the caterer’s work or servicing the client by fulfilling their request?

There was the chance that the caterer could mess up again, that something could go wrong at the event. Of course, I still wouldn’t be responsible since it was the client’s choice. This particular event was not a formal dinner – with the more casual format of buffet stations, errors were less likely.

I didn’t feel it would be professional to criticize or complain about the caterer to the client – that never makes anyone look good in business. Trying to promote my own caterer would only seem self serving.

Ultimately, however, I keep going back to the fact that this caterer and I were thrown together twice and the synchronicity involved convinces me that there was a reason for this. On the one hand, this was an opportunity to even the score for the way she treated me. If she didn’t get this booking, she would learn a really good lesson on the proper way to treat her fellow industry professionals.

On the other hand, I now had the “upper hand” where she was concerned. By agreeing to work with her once again, despite the previous interaction, I would become “bigger” than the situation and could create goodwill all the way around. I could compensate this caterer for her loss with the previous client which was perhaps a great blow for her. So, as I look back, I see that there was an even larger lesson to be learned here – by me - a lesson in forgiveness and a lesson in taking the high road instead of the low one. Teachers arrive in unexpected ways.

I decided to take the high road.

To be continued…

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