With life moving at the speed of technology, so much time is spent any more
just keeping up. When Mickey called to remind me to return the owners manual
for the 2015 Tiger XCX I am riding, he wanted to make sure it goes out to the
magazines with it, so they can know how to use all the latest electronic goodies
on the bike. Precisely the reason I requested it, so I could keep up. And
after reading it, so many of the buttons don’t quite scare me as much, and I can
use the various settings and functions as they were designed-at least as
interpreted by me. And there is the critical issue, the end user, and how he
perceives things. How I hate that word perception, but we have become a society
of perception, making decisions based on polls, opinions, rumors and inuendoes.
Adapting the truth to fit the scenario, as opposed to making the scenario fit
the truth. A question came up years ago at a Coca Cola business meeting, “why
do we work on the days of the smallest business, yet close on weekends when the
volume is greatest?” And why after all the planning, merchandising, and
stocking do we leave it in the hands of a part time student paid minimum wage to
see it all works successfully?” Any takers? While at Land Rover years later,
again the question of the final personal contact was brought up. Why after a
company spends billions on engineering a product, spends countless hours
training and equipping a sales staff, and training continually the service
technicians, do we leave the final product in the hand of the lot attendant who
drops off the car to the customer? Who is left with trying to explain what was
done to his car that day, and where his money went and why. It seems no matter
how well we all did our jobs in the process, it is the least paid, least
prepared, and least knowledgeable left to leave the final impression, and leave
the final perception of what was done. No wonder no one really wanted to be a
stocker or lot attendant. Underpaid, underprepared, but also under
appreciated....and the system goes on.
As I sat in the cafeteria at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Hospital, I had visited
and prayed with a friend having a new heart procedure done, in lieu of having
his body opened up to replace a valve. The place was filled with countless
doctors, nurses, various medical students and interns, plus all the
administrative people it takes to make it all function. And me. As I ate my
Hainan chicken, which was really good, so much for the hospital food perception,
I sat across from a young Oriental doctor, his badge read Head and neck
surgery. I watched as he ate with one hand, and scrolled through his i-pod with
the other, with a skill I wish I had, I used my traditional bib to keep my shirt
from gaining evidence of what I had for lunch. And covering up breakfast. I
thought of all the schooling he must have, and will have, and how carefully his
hands moved, surgeons don’t get chances to fix their “oops” moments, his
concentration told me he would deal with details as he cleaned his plate, rather
skillfully, at least as compared to me. But sitting right next to him was an
older man, by the look of his hands I would say a doctor, and probably a surgeon
also. I watched with awe as he cut into his chicken on the bone with great
skill, maneuvering the plastic knife deftly, getting all the meat and none of
the bone. Again great concentration, no useless motion, and the same skills
used when eating his veggies. Two surgeons, two different generations, two
skill sets, only one has the advantage of years of experience. The one thing
that cannot be taught...but can only be earned through time. Good or bad is up
to the individual...and one final thought of my after surgery, great doctors and
nurses, yet it was the volunteers, the nurse aides, the candy stripers as we
used to call them that would leave the lasting impression. Just like an older
volunteer lady, Mrs. Nakano did when I needed help finding my way around
yesterday, and she guided me with a smile. She made my whole day user friendly,
a side of life we take for granted, but without stopping to remember her
kindness will be remembered long after the visit is forgotten. A volunteer,
probably trained, but you cannot teach compassion or kindness, it comes from
within, from the heart, a term I do not use lightly.
Over the years religion has tried to make life more user friendly by
instituting laws and legalism. To make your experience a better one, but often
to just make whoever is in charge’s life easier. I think of the perception
people have of church, we have all had at least one bad experience, and yet we
keep going back for more, at least some of us. I think of how God created us in
his image, sent his son Jesus to reunite us to him, and then formed a team of 12
to go out and change the world with is message of salvation. 12 that I wouldn’t
have considered, just look at their resumes. Fishermen, tax collectors?
Dealing with pastors and church people, I see behind the curtains, and many
times it ain’t pretty. For they are faced with the same problems the end user
of a car or drinking a Coke is faced with, the last impression that makes a
lasting impression. I see in churches where people with no training, no skills
other than to volunteer are used as greeters, to answer questions after the
service, when the pastors and staff stand up front, for you to come to. Or duck
out the side door ASAP so they don’t have to meet their audience. Our Pastor,
Ray has started meeting in the lobby after the service, where the people are,
for many will not go up front, but all have to exit, and he can interact with
them. Field questions, and meet his flock face to face. I like that, and the
impression it leaves me is one who cares, one who wants to do effective follow
up, ones who loves his flock. Yet I refer back to the first disciples, and the
disciples of today, of which I am one. We are the stockers, the lot attendants
of Christianity, the least skilled, with no pay, volunteering. Yet we end up
with the most contact, and I wonder why did God set us up like that? What was
he thinking that afternoon in heaven?
Yet who better to deal with people than other people. Who better to care
and share than the ones in the trenches, who have been there. Who when inspired
by the holy spirit will give the words as needed. Who will show compassion when
needed many times before it is asked. To guide you to someone who can help, who
can leave you with a favorable impression when you leave, wanting to come back.
Who when they don’t know will find someone for you who can. Or better yet make
you excited about Jesus, and seeking more from him. We cannot dispense with our
pastors, they are priceless, but they cannot serve effectively without us. Just
like God planned it...some with teaching skills, some with the experience. Some
who only read the manual, some who have lived it. A team, better yet a family,
where we all are needed. So next time you feel like you cannot do anything, you
can at least pray. For your pastors, for me. We all need it, and what loving
words to hear, “I’ll pray for you.” But don’t let the moment pass, ask to pray
with them now, truth being the best perception of the love of Christ. Be user
friendly like Jesus was, show them the way in love. Just like you would want to
be shown...seems that is stated somewhere in the scriptures, at least I think
it is. Taken to the only two things Jesus asks of us, “love God with all your
heart, and love your neighbor also.” The pastor’s words may be forgotten, but
your actions won’t. Funny how life works out like that. Maybe God really does
know what he is doing.
So don’t brag about all your Bible knowledge, or years studying, we aren’t
interested. Show us how much you love, after all we are ambassadors of Christ,
and his representatives here today. We all need the love Jesus has to offer.
Available through his people-us. That smile, that hug, that attitude may be the
final thing to make the sermon make sense. To bring it all home, to make it
real. We need our pastors, but God designed us so we all are important, and how
ironic it seems the least of us will leave the biggest impression. Go love
someone today....and show how much Jesus is the user friendly side of life. I
hope I was friendly yesterday at lunch, those doctors had no idea who they were
sitting across from. Do you? Now, how about a live demonstration?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com