It has been said the true definition of a diplomat is telling someone to go
to hell, and making them look forward to the trip. Works in politics, just look
around if you doubt the definition, but we got to see one afternoon a woman
struggle with it at a new car introduction. We were coming back from Canada on
the Sprint RS, enjoying nights in bed and breakfasts, something we did years ago
when we had more money than kids, we still have the kids, the money is long
gone. My older son Christopher was working at a Courtyard by Marriott, and one
of the benefits was getting rooms at a huge discount at other Marriott
properties, places we would have not been able to afford otherwise. But our
destination that night was in Sonoma, California at the Lodge at Sonoma
Renaissance Resort and Spa, even the name sounds expensive and it was, but not
for us. For our $49 we got a deluxe suite that cost the commoners over $400 a
night, did we feel rich, but out of place. But when we pulled up into the
courtyard, it was filled with Volvo X-90 SUV’s, it was their international
introduction, and their were many press and magazine editors there. In charge
was a rather large Swedish looking woman, call her big boned, who was reading
off her clipboard to the few who were listening. How exciting can a Volvo be
after all, and Volvo SUV-boring. But was doing her best, almost militaristic,
“you will sit in car and enjoy,” and then we rode in. You would have thought no
one had ever seen a motorcycle before, for as we pulled through the courtyard,
and stopped, a few came up to look. Even some pictures were taken, and one
journalist was excited about it being a Triumph, and had actually been to a
Triumph intro-much more fun. Which really annoyed Ms. Volvo, and now she not
only had to make her new SUV interesting, but get them away from our
motorcycle. And if looks could kill, it would have been us instead of her, but
we survived, and so did Volvo, as they are still selling their X-90 today, and
Triumph is still selling motorcycles. A press intro we will never forget, nor
were we invited to, I doubt we will ever be invited back. Blame it on my son,
and his job, if not for him it would have been a lot less exciting, and
expensive.
When I watch someone trying to explain something too cerebral, boring, or
sleep worthy, I think of Ms. Volvo. She was the true definition of diplomacy
that day, she wanted to tell us to leave, maybe to go to hell, but had to put on
her happy face, with dozens watching. She had to over come the obvious interest
in our motorcycle vs. her Volvo, and she knew she was outmanned. But she kept
it together, I’m sure a healthy stay at the bar after helped her to reconsider
her future with Volvo, but she never quit. And reporters can be a tough lot.
Great product, great room, but bad shrimp, they’ll pan the product. Bad
product, great food, they’ll puff the product. Long after the event is over,
they may forget the car or truck or motorcycle, but they remember the food, the
rooms, the plane flight. Just not always the reason they were there.
In 1981 I went with my friend Tom to the Kawasaki dealer show in Denver.
Tom was a joker, and we sat in the back, him and a few others making jokes, much
like Mystery Science Theatre 3000. New product would be shown, and Tom would
comment, sometimes loud enough for others to hear, and laugh. And when he got
dirty looks, I got them too, somehow they knew I wasn’t a dealer, and the peer
pressure was almost funny if not so pathetic. But I endured the show,
remembered being glad I had a new KZ750 ordered, and left thinking “this would
never happen at a Honda show.” And I’ll never know....
‘'Sell the sizzle, not the steak,” is an old advertising mantra, but as an
inveterate steak eater, I can tell you that you can’t eat sizzle, and I’d
rather eat steak. It is the product I am interested in, not the clowns, the
girls on the cars, or the celebrities on display. And sometimes they aren’t
either, as running into Ivan Stewart at a Cycle World International show a few
years back. He worked for Toyota, and was there to sign autographs. Except
this was a motorcycle show, and the Toyota booth was empty. I guess the new
Ninjas were more appealing that day. So when he saw me, a familiar face, he
wanted to talk, and was glad to see me, usually it was the other way around. I
was a familiar face, and he needed a friend, and among all the sizzle, I was the
steak.
“Unless the Lord builds it, we labor in vain,” scripture tells us. Try to
tell that to a church looking to grow. To an over zealous pastor. We need
programs, special guests, movie nights, and free meals. That will get the
people in. And when it doesn’t, the pastor may turn on the congregation. He
did his part, why didn’t they invite all their friends and neighbors? How could
they let God down, hey, how could they have let him down? And so we churches
die or dying for the lack of a vision. Great sizzle, but no steak. Just the
opposite of Jesus, who was the meat of the matter. He was quiet and unassuming,
never had any book sales, no PR group to advise others-“ONE NIGHT ONLY-SEE THE
SON OF GOD PERFORM MIRACLES!” And we wonder why some churches never grow. But
what about those that do show up, and are disappointed, is it God’s fault?
Maybe He was booked into another town that night, or just too busy. Did anyone
think to ask Him about His schedule? But yet we see churches grow in numbers,
but not in depth, not in the spirit. To God it is not about quantity but
quality. Not about the size of the crowd, or the amount of the offering. It is
about trust, something Gideon was faced with. A miller, told to lead an army,
an enemy awaited him of over 30,000, and he was down to 300 men, who had to
drink like dogs, so fat and overweight that without God they could only lose,
they had eaten both sizzle and steak. But God provided them victory, it was all
about what God would do, not Gideon.
Is your relationship more sizzle than steak? Are you in it for your glory
or God’s glory? Is Jesus Lord, or just s a genie in a lamp when you want
something? Or just another product intro, where you remember more about the
retreat weekend and the food, than the chance to get closer to God? The gospel
is diplomacy in action, telling you of a heaven and a loving God, and making you
look forward to the trip. Don’t pay attention to the guys who ride in and
distract you, or the hecklers in the back of the room. Only Jesus will provide
the steak, the nourishment needed, without all the carnival atmosphere. A meal
fit for a king, served by a king, making us feel like kings. And you get the
best rooms available-such a deal, how can you pass that one up?
Ms. Volvo was persistent in her gospel of the X-90. How persistent are you
with yours? With Jesus? Diplomacy in action, living what you believe, riding
what you believe, and believing who Jesus is. The Bible calls it witnessing,
don’t make it a photo op, but rather a home movie. To be shared with others for
years to come. Volvo owners welcome. Just another afternoon in Sonoma...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com