Praying through the Morning Office this morning (in my backyard with by dog) I was struck by Psalm 101 in light of my post last night about Bob Sutton's Rule. If one doesn't like the name of the Rule it seems you could call it the Psalm 101 Rule.
Psalm 101As a review, the Rule is, at root, a zero tolerance policy for people who oppress, humiliate, and belittle co-workers. One way to spot such a person, according to Dr. Sutton, is to ask the following question: Does the alleged [perpetrator] aim his or her venom at people who are less powerful rather than at those people who are more powerful? Much of the problem here is how people behave in hierarchies. Which is why Psalm 101's words--"whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart"--and its zero tolerance policy toward behavior of this sort struck a chord.
I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,
him will I not endure.
My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he whose walk is blameless
will minister to me.
No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence.
Every morning I will put to silence
all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer
from the city of the LORD.
