I laughed at my friends witty comeback, but it had more truth than many jokes I have heard in some time. He said that he encountered so much stress at his work from his fellow "backstabbing" employees that his wife got him tickets to see the Redskins play at RFK stadium in Washington. My friend was enjoying the game and trying to relax from the pressures of work. Suddenly, a time-out was called, and the Redskins formed a huddle in the middle of the playing field. My friend's countenance changed. Watching the huddle in formation, he turned to his wife and said, "Let's go home-now!" His wife, bewildered and confused, could not understand. "Why do you want to go home? You were enjoying this game so much!" My friend said, "I know, I was until just now when the huddle formed. I can't stand it- they are probably talking about ME!" This may seem to be an extreme reaction, but if you are in any kind of leadership, you will have your share of detractors. No matter how good a job you may be doing, there will always be someone that doesn't like it. They will discount your vision, the cost of sacrifice you have given, and have no appreciation for what you are doing. They do all that they can to work against you. They share neither your vision, your goals,nor your commitment. They are people who are capable of tearing down in a few moments what it has taken you a life time to build. David discovered this. It was amazing how short people's memories were. David was the one who slew the giant, Goliath. But the detractors in Psalm 35 either ignored this, had no memory of it, or could have cared less about it. At times, David felt very much alone, and felt as though he could not trust anyone. The only one he could go to when he felt this way was to God. "But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered together; attackers gathered against me, and I did not know it: they tore at me and did not cease; with ungodly mockers at feasts they gnashed at me with their teeth. Lord, how long will You look on? Rescue me from their destructions." Verses 15-17. You have experienced the detractors. I know that I have. But one must be wise in dealing with them. I used to get very angry with such people and desire to go after them with such vigor that before I realized what I was doing, I fell into the trap that they were baiting for me. Paranoia is also a danger. We can become so consumed with what others are saying and fearing what they might be doing that we can end up doing more harm to ourselves than what our detractors ever dreamed of doing to us themselves. We can become like that friend at the football game. An equal mistake, however, is to pretend that they are not there. God would have us be aware, but to allow Him to take care of the detractors so that you may continue to do what He has called you to do. At the same time, ask God to give you the awareness and discernment that you need. We are not to be naive to our enemies. Christ told us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves." While David could have destroyed his enemies with a master-stroke of power and intrique, instead he prayed for God to be the judge and to allow Him to deal with them. He knew that anything he did-even if he had the right to do it-would have complicated the matter and given his detractors leverage to destroy him. You may encounter such people today. But whenever, and whereever you find them, always trust God to help you to treat them as you would your friends. Have a blessed day! Jeff Russell Devotion for Today Friendship Baptist Church, Langenselbold, Germany http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/3695/