Years ago, while employed at a previous church in a previous city, my Pastor asked if I could preach that coming Sunday’s sermon. I agreed. I don’t remember the sermon title or most of the details - except that I emphasized the kindness of Christ and the importance of emulating that in our own Christian walk.
It’s amazing how easy it is to preach something… and how quickly life provides you an opportunity to practice it.
The following day, Monday, I took a moment to peruse the unopened weekend mail. To my immediate frustration, I discovered that my local utility company had overcharged me AGAIN for the second month in a row. The hassle to get my money back after the first overcharge was nothing short of infuriating. Now they are doing it again? I immediately called the toll-free number and navigated through a seemingly endless number of prompts.
Press 1, for English.
Press 1 if you are a current customer.
Press 2 if you know your account number.
Press 5 if you know any numbers.
Press 7 if you know the square root of Pi.
Press 4 if you want a pie.
Press 8 if you are tired of pressing buttons.
Press 9 if we are wearing you down.
Press 6 if you are about to commit a felony.
Press 8 if you are voting for Dancing with the Stars.
Press 3 if you still remember why you are calling.
UGH! After what seemed to be 90 minutes, I finally got past that nonsense and was able to speak to an actual human being. In that moment, a flood of emotions was upon me. I was glad to be out of the purgatory of prompts. I was furious that I was having this conversation again. I realized that this customer service woman is not the cause of my problem. I also realized that she worked for the evil organization and needed to hear my frustration. I wanted to yell and curse and scream, which is unlike me.
But my conscience and character were telling me to be patient and gracious and kind in my speech. In that split second, I had to decide what voice was going to win. I honestly did not know. There were two beings on each shoulder, the devil and the angel, and they were battling over my mind and tongue.
Against my true desires, the angel spoke softly to the woman and explained my repeated frustration with her company and their costly mistake.
Customer service people are trained to handle idiots like me. This lady was great. She was helpful. She was understanding and patient. She spoke in a very disarming and soothing manner. Within about ten minutes, my problem was solved, and the money issue was fixed. I could feel the blood leaving my head, and watching the hulk-like figure lose its shade of green.
What she said to me next sent chills down my spine…
Customer service lady: “Mr. Arters, is there anything else I can do for you?”
Me: “No, Ma’am. You have been very helpful. Thank you so much.”
Customer service lady: “You are very welcome. Before you go, I need to tell you something.”
Me: “What’s that?”
Customer service lady: “I just wanted you to know that the sermon you gave yesterday was very powerful and it really impacted me. I was glad that I had visited your church.”
Me: (looooong silence) “Um, you were there?”
Customer service lady: “Yes, when I saw your name on the account, I realized it was the same name on the church bulletin. And the same voice. At any rate, I just wanted to say thank you.”
Me: (long silence) “Um, you are welcome. Thank you!”
I hung up and honestly wanted to cry.
How close did I come to discrediting my sermon? I was about three seconds away from steamrolling a visitor at my church, without even knowing it. In this case, my lips and my life matched. Fortunately for me, what she saw in the pulpit and what she heard on the phone were the same. The truth is, my heart was far from speaking kindly that day. There was rage in my heart, and only because I was raised right and living in the South, did I realize that such behavior never solves problems.
There have been plenty of times when my life has not matched my lips. I’m working on that. I have to constantly remind myself that I am always being watched – even when I am alone. The customer service reps on the phone and the people behind the ticket counter at the airport both have ears. The grocery bagger and the guy who works at the gas station both have eyes. They watch and hear what we say, what we do, and how we treat them. These people know people who know people who know you. And they know more about you than you think.
It has been said that “character is who you are when no one is watching.”
So, who are you?
It’s easy to look good on a platform or behind a pulpit or in a pew. Anyone can pad a resume, impress in an interview, or dazzle on a first date. But how do you behave when you think no one is looking? How do you speak when you think no one is really listening? The inappropriate jokes we repeat, the flirtatious responses we give, and the websites we visit are not as private as we might assume.
Remember, we all live before an Audience of One.
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” – Proverbs 15:3
Ah this is excellent! Definitely a God moment.