A few months ago, I went to the bank to try to figure out why a deposit wasn’t showing on my statement. I had called and talked to someone but she, after sending the statements away to the “appropriate department”, had insisted rather condescendingly that all was well with my account. I was sure that it wasn’t.
I decided to head over to the local branch and talk to someone in person. This is not our main bank and I don’t go there very often. This means they naturally do not know me there.
As I tried to explain the problem to the bank teller, she eyed me indifferently. She wasn’t mean but she also wasn’t nice. I felt a bit frustrated at her apathy, although I did try very hard to stay kind and keep my voice neutral.
She finally turned to her computer and said, “what’s your last name?”
When I said my last name, her face brightened and her whole demeanor changed. Oh, yes, I see those checks come in and I process them, she said and, quite unexpectedly, she became much more interested in what was going on with my account.
I don’t know this woman and, to my knowledge, she doesn’t know me. But, for whatever reason, my last name triggered a response.
Despite the change in her attitude, she didn’t really help me.
A few days later, never really receiving any answers from the women at my local branch, I called the branch in the next town. The young man who answered the phone was cheerful and kind before I even spoke a word. He took down my information and within 24 hours had answered where my disappearing deposit had gone (to the wrong account).
A few weeks later, I went into my regular bank. We have personal and business accounts there and had a very good relationship with the former manager of the branch. (Disappointingly, the current manager is very disinterested in her customers but that’s irrelevant here.)
On this particular day the teller didn’t know me and she was stammering, saying she needed my ID to finish my transaction. I was surprised because I was making a large deposit into my account (and I was not withdrawing a cent) so I was kindly trying to understand why.
The former bank manager, who works from several branches in a certain department, just happened to be there in a next door office with the door open. I could see him listening to what was going on and soon he came out and told her that I am who I say I am and she didn’t need my ID to process the deposit.
There is just something about being known, isn’t there?
As I reflect on my experiences at the two different banks, I realized I ran into five very different types of people.
First, woman #1 that I called at Bank #1. Ostensibly, she acted like she cared but obviously she a) had no idea what she was doing (claimed to send it away but could never have actually done that, as it was a simple mistake to find) and b) didn’t really care, as her condescension in telling me that all was well was clearly not care.
Some people can pretend to be nice but, in the end, show their true colors of self-interest and lack of compassion.
Second, woman #2 from Bank #1. This woman was cold and apathetic until she heard my name. For some unknown reason this filled her with interest to help me. When I was unknown to her, she was totally disinterested. And she never did help me.
This woman is a great example of the biased person that James talks about in his second chapter (verses 1-8). She changed her demeanor and her behavior based on who the person was rather than treating all people the same.
Third, man #1 at Bank #1, different branch. This young man answered my call with a pleasant and kind voice. He listened to my problem, acknowledged my concern, and promised to get back to me. And he did so in a timely manner. He also actually found the issue.
He was a great example of customer service. And of how we should live life—with kindness, concern, and follow-through of promises.
Fourth, woman #1 at Bank #2. This woman was kind but lacking in knowledge of who I was. It wasn’t her fault and she was just doing what she was supposed to be doing.
She was a good example of an employee, showing kindness and following the bank rules. Many people do not have that level of integrity anymore.
Fifth, and finally, man #1 at Bank #2. This former manager unselfishly stepped in to a situation when he could have just ignored us for his own selfish agenda.
This man was busy working on his own thing and he wouldn’t have had to take the time to help. But his kindness of heart and friendly demeanor put us both at ease and saved us both some extra work.
So why even share this?
Well, here’s why. We all have an opportunity to talk to people every single day. We have an opportunity to face problems and solve them.
Oh, most of us do not work at a bank. But we work, volunteer, or serve somewhere. And, if we live with someone else, we have these opportunities at home every single day.
How do we treat the people around us? How do we help them solve their problems?
Are we filled with a lot of complaining and frustration and unkind words? Or do we choose joy and kindness and unselfishness when someone reaches out for help?
I’ll be the first to confess that if you were a little mouse in my house watching when my husband comes in asking for help while I’m busy doing something, you would notice that I would not be a model responder. Oh, if I don’t have my own agenda at the time, I can be quite kind and helpful. But if I am in the middle of something… well, I am still working on that.
Today, when the unexpected crops up, let’s try to be kind and pleasant. Let’s conduct ourselves with integrity. Let’s be without bias, having a good attitude and a joyful spirit, no matter who the Lord puts in our path. And let’s be proactive in helping others, rather than selfishly saying to ourselves that it’s “not our problem”. Most importantly, let’s bring the love, grace, forgiveness, and mercy for others that Jesus has shown us.
We won’t do this perfectly, of course, but let’s keep trying. And in so doing, we will be like Jesus, showing a skeptical world that Christ absolutely does makes a difference.