Before I begin my rant, I should provide sufficient background information to really give you an idea of the severity of my frustration. First, I will acknowledge that I may be a bit impatient. However, last year I signed my business phone contract with a company that I will not mention by name. (Although, I will say that it is not Verizon and you may use your deductive reasoning skills as you wish.)
I have had issues with this company ever since I signed the contract with them! For starters, I could not set up my online account. I spent an hour on the phone the first month only to be told that there was a “glitch” and I would need to go into the store. I did.
Once I was at the store, I spent an hour with the manager (who was wonderful) trying to fix the problem. She could not and became frustrated herself after calling the main office only to be placed on hold for approximately 30 minutes. Despite the amount of time I spent at the store, I had absolutely no resolution and would spend the next 10 months and, I suspect all future months with this company, going into this location and paying at the kiosk in their store. No big deal. The folks are nice and it’s not too far out of the way.
HOWEVER, today I was unable to pay at the kiosk. Why? Because it did not recognize my number. My account seemed to have vanished. With my phone still fully functional and with a credit on my phantom account, I sought the assistance of an associate. Again, the lady who previously helped me was very kind. But after 20 minutes I was told, “When you get the time, come back in tomorrow.” WHEN. I. GET. THE. TIME!!!!!
I don’t GET time. I had 5 minutes that turned into 20 and now when I ‘get’ more time, I am to use it to drive across town to pay a bill that should have been paid in the 5 minutes allotted to the task this morning!
Just to put it into perspective, by 10 a.m. when their doors have just opened I have seen 5 clients. I have reviewed and published social media posts for 4 companies. I have done a Bible study. I have run 3-5 miles. I have reviewed at least 2-3 contracts. And I have answered anywhere from 15-20 e-mails, confirmed the calendars of three different offices, and completed a CE report. And yet, this sweet girl tells me, “When. I. Get. Time…”
Time is funny and, if we’re honest, most of our time is spent in vain. Like Ecclesiastes 1:1-8 (NIV)-
“Meaningless! Meaningless!”
says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless!
Everything is meaningless.”
What do people gain from all their labors
at which they toil under the sun?
Generations come and generations go,
but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets,
and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south
and turns to the north;
round and round it goes,
ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
To the place the streams come from,
there they return again.
All things are wearisome…”
And yet we keep ourselves busy. We push on and we avoid whatever monsters our heads have convinced us are real. We work 16-20 hours straight because our hearts are broken, our families are dysfunctional, and our memories shame us into a relentless pursuit of justification through achievement.
Perhaps the best thing we can do is realize that our purpose is not to make more, acquire more and do more. Our purpose is to serve God.
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)
We expect ourselves to carry burdens, fight battles, and overcome overwhelming circumstances that we simply cannot. We spend time trying to measure up when we all fall short.
But not today. Today, I will acknowledge my self-doubt and my insecurities along with my shame, and I will do what must be done anyway. I will not pretend that these things do not exist in my life. They do exist, and they hurt. But I will not waste time trying to live outside of my purpose and duty as a child of Christ.
If I adjust the way I spend my time to reflect my purpose, I will do exactly as Scripture teaches and love the Lord with all my heart and love my neighbor as I love myself. This means that I will cast my worries upon the Lord and trust Him to care for all of my needs. It also means that I will smile at the store associate when I go back to pay my bill…again…when I get time.