Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice – Ephesians 4:31
Alex was thrilled when his application impressed the HR specialist and earned him an interview. But his elation vanished when he was told the company’s strict protocol: they had to contact his former employer to verify his work history. “Let’s say, hypothetically speaking,” Alex said nervously, “an applicant was a great worker, but he didn’t exactly leave his last job on good terms. Would he still be considered?” The specialist stoically replied: “Only if his former employer confirms he was a great worker, and that the nature of his departure wouldn’t disqualify him as a worthy candidate for this company.”
I created the opening scenario from my thoughts about seeking help from someone I knew in the past. Although no longer in the same circles, I nevertheless considered our standing. Had it ended on a good note? It made me ponder wise advice: how you leave a situation is as essential as how you arrive. This wisdom resonates with Ecclesiastes 7:8: “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
I’ve discovered that this adage is true: ‘Don’t burn your bridges.’ The people you discard today may be the same people you need tomorrow. That is why leaving on good terms keeps the door open if you ever need to walk through it again.