Autumn, anxiety and answering machines

Just returned the other day from a splendid ride across the extreme northern tier of New York back to my home. The ride, while a very long one, was simply lovely. The weather was warm, not hot, the atmosphere dry, not humid, the breeze refreshing but not annoying. However the best part of it was getting the first glimpse of autumnal splendor - a tall, robust tree full of leaves splashed with dashes of brown, gold, orange, yellow and red. (Because I am officially designated as an arboreal ignoramus, I can't tell you what KIND of tree it was!)

What struck me at the same time was the sight of a woman standing alongside that roadside tree, peering into a buggy that was drawn by a single horse. For once I was happy to get a red light, because it allowed me to observe this for a moment. The woman appeared to be about 60 years of age, and seemed to be en route to the village up ahead. I noticed that there was no one else in the buggy so she must have been checking on the items inside. She looked like she had not a care in the world - but instead wore a slight smile as she turned and cast her eyes toward the tree just described.

Now I know I'm always harping on my volunteers to never make assumptions, but here I'm going to make one. I've never examined one of these buggies closely, but I'm going out on a limb to say it probably lacked heated seats, a cellular phone, electronic stability control, a CD/cassette stereo and satellite radio - all items I've convinced myself I couldn't do without. Yet as I pulled out upon the light turning green I realized that we both had just experienced the simple delight of God's creation. I didn't enjoy the colors of that tree any more than this lady did despite our driving vastly different vehicles. While my earlier thoughts had been about the calls I needed to make from the car and the traffic I was likely to encounter en route , etc, in that moment I was reminded of Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." So, let's not unduly fret about the economy, the world, the anxieties of the moment; let's make an effort instead to savor the authentic joy that God provides for us each day if we'll only stop to consider it.

I realize following up such noble sentiments with a brief piece about answering machines might seem obtuse or even heretical, but I wanted to share this with you.

Every volunteer recently has commented upon the frustration of getting recorded messages instead of people; I share that myself, as it can be frustrating to the extreme. Now we all understand why so many people are screening calls. We're all inundated with telemarketing pitches and if you live in a political "battleground state" like I do here in Ohio, the election season has added to this regular onslaught with an absolute torrent of political outreaches featuring every imaginable candidate and technique for getting our money and our vote.

However, one enterprising volunteer has had some good success recently with a simple but sound strategy. Once he's gotten several answering machines over various times and days, he leaves a message that says he has the campaign packet for the family in question and that he will have it with him on this coming weekend. He knows or finds out which Mass these folks normally attend and indicates to the family that he'll be at the Mass also and would they be kind enough to look for him so he could spend a few moments with them discussing their packet. He's had this work for him!

A couple of points needs to be made. First, it helps that he has chosen people that he knows so that he both understands their church attendance habits and also that he recognizes them. Secondly, like any strategy it isn't a guarantee -people can vary their habits or be away on that weekend, but it has proven to be effective in many situations. It's assertively pro-active, while retaining the important qualities of the personal touch and a low-key approach. Worth a try if you are experiencing the "agony of the answering machine!"

Quote of the posting:

"The ideal never comes. Today is ideal for him who makes it so."

Horatio W. Dresser