Brenda’s Blog – September 26, 2017
“Ring the bell and something happens”
The line at the post office grew, as did the frustration. “Where is the postal clerk?” “Is anybody working today?” Our small rural facility doesn’t hold a very long line, but this agitated group made much noise.
Finally, someone saw a small hand-lettered sign on the crowded counter: “Ring the bell for service.” Quickly the first person walked up, dinged the bell (several times), and sure enough – a friendly postal worker arrived from the backroom. Each person was served efficiently. The man behind me smiled and said, “Ring the bell and something happens.”
I looked at him, smiled, and said “That’ll preach.” As a lay preacher, he thoughtfully said, “I think I will have to figure out how to use that.” I knew immediately – it was a blog post.
I also thought of the times in my life when I either figuratively or literally sat behind a parked car, fussing and fuming. So many times when I am stuck or at least at a standstill it isn’t because the system is broken, but because I am not in sync. The postal workers didn’t hide in the back wanting to frustrate us. No, they did their sorting work knowing that when they were needed in the front someone would ring the bell.
What bells need ringing in our lives? Are there relationships that seem to be at a dead end, but really just need the ring of a bell to enliven it? What are the assumptions we make at work that create long lines? Is there a solution waiting if we would only read the fine print on the signs? Where are the obvious log jams which only require an objective evaluation and appropriate action? Where are you standing in a line complaining when just a simple action would result in something happening?