Be Kind to Strangers

Don’t you just hate being interrupted when you’re busy? Everyone does. But it’s the times when we’re really busy – and then interrupted – that the quality of our character is tested. And last Tuesday I failed the test!

At 10:35 in the morning, I was sitting at my computer trying to write my column for the “Religion” page of my local paper. In addition to being seen in the local paper, my column is also published online, as well as being seen in several other California newspapers. And while I admit that I’m not exactly writing for the “L.A. Times,” this is a big responsibility in my little world.

So, there I am, hands poised on the computer keys, deep in thought … and then the phone rings.

“Hello” (long pause) “Hello….?”

“Hello, is this Mrs. Friedchicken?” (Will they ever get the name right?)

“Yes, how can I help you?"

“This is Lucinda Johnson calling from ATT to offer you our super-economical, outstandingly cheap, grossly-discounted, never before heard of, long distance service."

“No thank you.”

“Excuse me Mrs. Friedchicken, but what long distance company are you currently using?”

Click.

Here’s my question: since when did it become okay to just hang up on another person? Since when did it become acceptable for me to be rude to a fellow human being? Why am I allowing my annoyance with the obnoxious, intrusive sales tactics of phone and credit card companies to dictate how I treat other people?

No matter what I think about the particular company that has hired telemarketers to call me at all hours of the day and night, the person on the other end of the line is still worthy of my respect. In fact, if I would not treat them that way face to face, then I should not be treating them that way on the telephone. Or better still – if I would not treat them that way at church on Sunday, then I should be unwilling to treat them that way on the phone.

In past years, I used to make a point of being kind to telemarketers when they called. I liked to think of these sales calls as God-given opportunities to be kind. I would listen patiently to the callers spiel (I believe this takes self-control) and then gently say, “I’m sorry, we’re not interested … but could I tell you that God loves you and has a plan for your life.” I almost always got a positive response. I mean, just think about it – the person on the other end of the line may be going through a tremendously difficult time in their lives at that moment. They could be enduring anything from a discouraging diagnosis from their doctor, to divorce, to even the death of a loved one. The point being that there is another human being (just like you and me) on the other end of that line.

No matter how intrusive the call may be, you and I need to remember that the salesperson on the other end is loved by God, and is therefore worthy of our respect (despite their occasionally pushy behavior). They are worthy of our time.

As Christians we would (hopefully) go out of our way to be kind to others. We would gladly make dinner for that new mother in our church, gladly help out in Sunday school when called upon, or gladly comfort a hurting neighbor – showing them the love and comfort of the Christ. So why not consider these sales calls as opportunities to be kind to strangers? Let’s treat these salespeople as if it were Jesus himself on the other end of the line.

I don’t know about you, but I am guilty of sloppiness in this area of my life … my biggest excuse being that I’m busy: "Sorry Lucinda Johnson from ATT, no time to be kind to you right now. I’m busy writing my inspirational Christian column. It’s about being kind to strangers.”

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Paula Friedrichsen is a conference speaker and the author of "The Man You Always Wanted is The One You Already Have" (Multnomah 2007). She lives with her husband and daughter in Northern California.
© 2008 Paula Friedrichsen - All rights reserved.
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This column is used with permission.