Sometimes It Pays To Be Nice
A couple of weeks ago, we were having phone problems at the church. We have an ancient phone system, circa 1972, with a huge control box that sits ominously beneath the secretary's desk. Something happened- lightning, line spike, secretary's heel- and the phones stopped working. I called Avaya, with whom we have been paying a service contract forever, and the phone rep matter-of-factly told me we would most likely have to pay $350 for a service call. That seemed rather steep to me, since we have been paying into their kitty for about 30 years for service we have probably never used. I complained, but in the end I asked for a service call. Rodney came along in about two hours. He was a big man who looked like he would be right at home running a bulldozer or swinging a sledge hammer. He went right to work replacing circuits and tracing lines. Soon the “box” was repaired, and he never said a word about the scuff marks from Karen's #5 shoe. Next thing, he was crawling around in my office seeking the root cause of a line malfunction. I looked up from my studies and said to him, “Sir, this afternoon you are spending more time on your knees than most of my church members.” He smiled and replied, “Well, it's good to be on your knees when you're in a church!” From there the conversation flowed easily. As he worked we talked. I learned all about his wife, family, church, hobbies, home, etc. We talked about his spiritual issues and aspirations. A young man walked in for counseling and prayer, and I introduced him to Rodney. Rodney worked quietly and said he appreciated me taking time for someone with a need.
When the service was completed, he discovered that a big part of the problem was a “stuck” modem on the secretary's computer. Technically, I guess such is not a phone system fault. Rodney packed up after four hard hours of work, we shook hands, and he headed on out. And I've yet to receive a bill.
I spoke with Mack, a member of the church recently retired from the phone company. He asked me what we were charged for the repair, and I said “Nothing”. He told me that the phone repairman has lots of leeway concerning the charge to the customer. And he told me about a local church that would mistreat and speak unkindly toward him during service calls. When I asked how much he would charge them, he said with a sly smile, “Every dollar I could!” I thought about Rodney. Please believe me when I say I was not trying to manipulate the guy. But I am glad that life has taught me to treat others with kindness and respect. Sometimes it pays!
08.18.06 (11:17 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
inkspector (
reply)
post date:
08.18.06 (8:33 pm)
Very good Pastor Dave!
I am so thankful for people like Rodney!
And the nice thing is at some point you think of that and then you are kind to another person because of it.
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
reply)
post date:
08.18.06 (9:16 pm)
Hooray for random acts of kindness!
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
08.18.06 (11:12 pm)
Great post. I love it when people make you glad to have met them.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.19.06 (5:35 am)
Reply to: inkspector
To first meet Rodney, and to look at Rodney, one is most likely not motivated to enter into conversation. And that is a reminder to me that first impressions are not to be trusted. Just be kind to others- it usually works.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.19.06 (5:36 am)
Reply to: babe4jesus55
Hooray! Good word; haven't used it in years, but have now returned it to my vocabulary.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.19.06 (5:37 am)
Reply to: surrogate
And if we would just give others the opportunity, I'm sure many more would make us glad we met them.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
08.19.06 (11:54 am)
I hope you'll feel the same way if the bill is just delayed or got lost in the mail!
posted by:
spook102956 (
reply)
post date:
08.20.06 (6:54 pm)
Good blog. It's fun when you "connect" with a stranger. I was in the grocery store the other day and a stranger, a woman at least half my age, came up to me and made a funny comment about a product. We stood in the aisle and laughed and laughed. Others glanced at us like we were crazy but I loved it and was glad this young woman took the time to pick me out for a good laugh!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.22.06 (12:08 pm)
Reply to: godsmack
It's not, unless you happen to be limburger cheese or an office phone system.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.22.06 (12:09 pm)
Reply to: bawdy
That's a thought. If he had a bill to present, he would have left it after the service.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.22.06 (12:11 pm)
Reply to: spook102956
I've found that even the grimmest appearing stranger can turn out to be really a nice person if I give him/her a chance. Same with me. I give the impression that I'm so very serious, until someone actually engages me in conversation. Then they know I'm just your regular, everyday idiot.
