Today, I had to deal with a Dutch bank to register an address change. I already searched their website for a couple of hours, to see how I can register that. They directed me to their telebanking or their app, but I don’t have either of them, because I don’t have a regular bank account with them. The only thing I have with them is a small ‘third pillar’ retirement account since donkey’s years.
At long last, I decided to visit one of their offices in the Netherlands. But that’s not so easy, because they only have a handful left. They force their clients to do everything online. I spent half my (holi)day travelling there to find the office. After waiting for almost an hour, I got to hear that they can’t help me at the office. I had to call a helpline.
After spending about 3 hours on the phone, I got my address changed. Victory! Most banks seem to think that the clients exist for them, not the other way around. That is why changing a simple address has cost me something like 10 hours work. (I must say that my experience with Swiss banks has overall been much better than dealing with Dutch banks; chapeau!)
But such a story is not unique to banks. Three weeks ago, I wanted to contact another church. I left a message on their answering service, and I left a message on their website. Until the day of today, I never received a reply. I thought to myself: “just imagine that you’re a congregant that needs urgent assistance.”
We are not talking yet about the help desks of internet providers, cable companies, telephone companies, doctor’s offices, medical specialists and the like.
I know, it’s all human work and people make mistakes or don’t pay attention. But we all like to get the impression that we’re taken seriously and not for granted. That we don’t communicate into a void in which nothing is heard.
Hear the words of the Psalmist:
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:1+2
When we speak to God, we never speak in a void. He’s not like some of the banks, he’s not like the service phone for the cable company, he’s not too busy.
Maybe you know the words of this old song: Reach out and touch the Lord, as He goes by; you will find He’s not too busy, to hear your heart’s cry; He is waiting just this moment, your needs to supply. Reach out, and touch the Lord, as he goes by.
And if you wonder what his phone number or password is, it is spelled J-E-S-U-S. Direct line!