Shining before men...or trying to

I went to my first small group meeting with Dirk and a few other Christians who are not in LT this year on Monday night. He named the group Living transparently after Matthew 5:16, "In the same way let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." While discussing this verse, Dirk asked me if knew one of the supervisors in the kitchen. I sort of laughed, through my pen on the table, and leaned in my chair because I already knew that he knew the answer to that question.
I got the impression that this supervisor disliked me from the beginning. On my first day, she would not talk to me. Instead she gave instructions to the girl I was working with. Her low voice and Eastern European accent did not help. I would have to keep asking, "What did she say?" She was also one of the more strict supervisors so I just avoided her as much as possible for the rest of the summer.
At lunch on Monday, we discussed our "grudges." My supervisor immediately came to mind. I did not want to have that conversation all over again during small group, but that is what it took for Dirk to get the point across. Somebody mentioned that my supervisor seemed depressed last summer so maybe I should have been a little more sensitive to that. I will not get to see her very much this summer, but nevertheless I know I should make a conscious effort to be nice this time.
"Shining before men" as a whole did not get much easier in the following days. Yesterday whoever was responsible for making the veggie tray I was scheduled to deliver did not do it. I had to make it myself. My supervisor was actually a livesaver in this situation because she knew how to do it. I was still half an hour late for two deliveries because preparing the veggie tray left me little time to make the drinks. I missed a break and was very frustrated for a couple hours. I certainly was not shining very bright.
Perhaps my attitude at work will change after committing this verse to memory and lots of prayer. Food service may seem like a mindless field, but I think it is far more stressful than most people think. I want to encourage everyone reading this to remember to "shine before men" no matter what, especially my home group as they reach out to new and experienced students on campus.