A Hard Command

“How can I help you, Ma’am?” asked the man on the other end of the phone. I wondered where he was. Perhaps he was in New York City, sipping a hot coffee purchased from one of those street vendors.  Or maybe he was in Shanghai, China, looking out the window at architecture that looks so beautiful, it is almost alien.

Today, while trying to make an appointment, I faced what can be a frustrating experience; I was continuously connected to a call center.

In our humanness, it is easy to think that these people are just talking drones. But it is important to remember that these faceless voices have lives: they button their pants just like you or I, worry about money, dream, sing in the car and face death.

Being loving to others is important.  In this circumstance, I’ll admit that I may have had a bit of an easier go of it. I used to work in a call center.

 I remember hearing the impatient sigh when the person on the other end of the line realized he or she was talking to someone who could not help them. I remember being screamed and cursed at.  Every once in a while, you would get someone who was nice, and this would give you enough sweet fuel to get you through the next five calls.

But while trying to make this appointment, even I felt a tinge of frustration that threatened to turn to outward anger when I was continuously tossed back to the call center. In the very well-known passage, Matthew 22:39, it says: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” So I stuffed down my sinfulness and made sure I sounded cheerful.  

We all must remember that your neighbor may be that shaky voice on the other end of the phone. Show them love. By showing them love, we are a good witness for our father in heaven.