“We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.” (John 9:31 NLT)
Often the audiences laugh at a comedian’s routine because their jokes contain something that they can relate to by their personal experiences. This past weekend, a well-known comedian was sharing a humorous exaggeration of his experience on an automated system, trying to reach customer service. The funniest part of the routine, to me, was where he had to keep say, “Representative! Representative! Representative! Make I speak to a representative please!”
I laughed so loud that I probably woke up the neighbors next door and across the street! I laughed until I cried because there have been multiple times when I did nearly the exact same thing in real life. I needed to talk to a CSR (Customer Service Representative), so after dialing the right number, I followed the automated prompts when my turn came. I was the seventh caller in the waiting cue. I held on, listening to the music that must be the universal version of “Caller, I hope you hang up.” Eventually, by the automated voice for the proper prompts to follow. I was not presented with an option that would connect me directly with the department I was trying to reach, so I push “0”, in hopes of reaching a person who could assist me. But no, that did not happen!
An automated voice, sounding like the first automated voice, would say, “How can I help you?” I would politely reply, “May I speak to a representative.” Immediately I was sent back to where I started and listened to the same options after listening to the same universal “on hold” music. This time, when presented with options, I would try saying absolutely nothing, employed a “silence is golden” strategy to see if a live voice would finally try to help me because I was a caller who needed human help.
Did it work? No! I was asked again by an automated voice, “How can I help you?” With a louder voice this time, fueled by my frustration, I changed my tone and said, “Representative please!” Again, yes, again, the automated voice would ask again, as if my request was not heard, “How can I help you?” My “blessed is the peacemaker” demeanor is starting to diminish. Just being transparent and telling the truth. My compulsive, orderly, on-time, sometimes impatient traits started digging their way to the surface. Surrendering to the influence, I said, even louder this time and more emphatically, “May I speak to a representative!” Notice, no question mark, but an exclamation mark. The same programmed voice asked me again, putting it in simple terms, the way I heard it, “What do you want?”
Now I am fussing, not cussing, just fussing with an automated voice, in the same way we talk to our cars when they don’t start after a few tries. “Representative! Representative!” That is funny in the comedian world, but it was not funny in real life, not at all. But you see how the comedy routine I heard was a reflection of a common reality. Yes, in case you are wandering, I saw I needed to work on some areas, and perhaps should advance to online chats via the computer. It’s a good thing, thank God, that the automated voice was not a real person, one who needed to see Christ exemplified by His witnesses, specifically me in this case.
Let me express or expand my gratitude in a way that will benefit you and me, Thank God that we can go straight to the Lord in prayer and when we get there, we, being those who worship Him and do His will, know He hears us directly, and we have the privilege of calling Him up and telling Him what we want, of course in line with His will, or we can petition Him for help for self or for others, or we can earnestly, with no delay or wait time, intercede for someone who is standing in the need of prayer. Remember that today! There is no reason to delay! Thank God praying is not on an automated system. Thank God that we have a Representative intervening for us at the right hand of the throne of God!
Go ahead now and have a great thankful Thursday! Know that I will be going directly to the throne of God, calling Him up to have a one-one-one conversation with Him! I’ll pray for you, and you should definitely pray for me. Be blessed!
“The Lord is far from the wicked [and distances Himself from them], but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous [that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].” (Proverbs 15”29 The Amplified Bible)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King