"i invite YOU in": BEE STILL or BEE STING?

I was recently “tweeted at” from 2 different students. Not only 2 different students, but students from 2 different schools. And not only 2 different schools; but 2 different climates that defined the culture in each of those schools.You see, upon entering the one school I was personally greeted by the Superintendent, who sat with me for 30 minutes “shooting the breeze,” and even encouraged me to keep speaking out  (though he had not heard the message yet). At  the other school, I wasn’t met or greeted by anyone on staff. I was actually ignored until I asked if I could find my way to the auditorium to set up. And one thing I’ve learned from doing this on a daily basis is that the culture of any school starts at the top and flows downward meaning  the student body’s  attitude in an assembly is shaped by the receptive example and expectation of the staff.One school was engaged and responsive; the other disrespectful and aloof.One tweet chirped, “amazing assembly today. @mattmaherstory was so enlightening. Thank you for coming and sharing your story.”The other tweet bled, “Soldiers losing their lives everyday in war who don’t get recognized, yet we applauded @mattmaherstory a murderer in an assembly today. Something’s wrong.”Both of these students heard the “same story” about what I did, but the one believed that I did not deserve to have a voice nor can there be any lessons learned from a “murderer” like me.  Ouch! Yet I remain grateful for such feedback and the conflicting opinions, BEEcause it takes two parts to make a whole!I seriously said to myself in regard to the second students tweet, “Wow. That stings!”And then I was presented with a dichotomy lesson on which feedback I should feed off of.  And as I thought about the sting that words can produce, I realized that there is another thing that stings, but that which stings is also responsible for honey.  And I guess it depends on how you see the BEE.  You can focus on the stinger and hate their existence.  OR you can enjoy their honey and appreciate the good that they bring from their existence. (I digress!). The main reason my thoughts have gone this way today was not to talk about the feedback, but to trace back the feed. I know, I know, me and my riddles! I was thinking more about the cultures that created those tweets. You see, if I allow twitter feedback to dictate my character, than I’ll be as unstable as the different schools cultures. I must simply take the “sting” and the “honey” that comes with having a voice and BEE still as I move in God’s will. Period.