The facade of caring

When UPS or FedEx delivers a package on time, the customer feels like someone actually cares about them.

There's something about a delivery showing as scheduled that builds trust, and sends an unspoken message, that says: I CARE!

However, if UPS or FedEx has a delay, and a package is late, don't expect them to really do anything about it. Most times there is nothing that can be done, except wait.

If you decide to call UPS or FedEx, you'll get caught in voice prompts for a few minutes before ever speaking to a human.

When you finally speak to a human, the only thing they need to know is: what's your tracking number.

Hey! What about asking questions like...

• What's your name?
• ...or, how's your day going?
• ...or, I hope the family is doing ok?
• NOPE... what's your tracking number?

That's what you are to them, a tracking number. So, forget about everything else, and just have that stupid tracking number ready!

This doesn't send the message of caring. Actually, the whole thing's a facade because there's no one at UPS or FedEx that really cares about you.

However, businesses both big and small will choose to use either UPS or FedEx to deliver their customers products. Their choice isn't just based on price. It's based on IF they believe that either UPS or FedEx can deliver their customers products on time, most of the time. This is always built into the choice of businesses, because businesses know that part of saying I care is showing up at your customers door-step ON TIME.

Now contrast this with church life.

• When you show up at the church-house, there's no facade.
  It really does mean: YOU CARE!
• When you show up on time at the church-house, there's no facade.
  It really does mean: YOU CARE!
• When you show up early at the church-house, there's no facade.
  It really does mean: YOU CARE!
• When you show up often at the church-house, there's no facade.
  It really does mean: YOU CARE!

Finally, consider this...

When you're absent from the church-house, and someone checks on you with a call, text or email, they don't ask you: What's your tracking number?

Instead, they say and ask things like:

• We miss ya!
• How's the kids doing?
• Hope all is well.
• Can I do anything to help?
• Can I pray with you?

Why?
Because there's no facade! You're more to them than just a tracking number.

They are reaching out because other people matter to them, and they really do CARE!