Let's be real...

I overheard this conversation recently...

(Background: Girl A was trying to tell Girl B that she will not be able to make it for choir practice at by 630pm during the weekdays.)

Girl A: Hey I have a problem here, I won't not be able to make it on time for the weekday practices because I knock off at 6 and it takes me at least an hour to get here.

Girl B: Just try to come on time lah, we have a lot to cover.

Girl A: Yah, but I just want you to know that it is impossible for me to make it on time cos' I can only leave work at 6 the earliest. And I'm not going to make it here by 630.

Girl B: Ok... just try...

Girl A: Sigh... ok. Anyway, I'm just letting you know in advance.

Me: ?????

Which part of "I won't not be able to make it on time for the weekday practices because I knock off at 6 and it takes me at least an hour to get here." did Girl B not understand??? Ok...I'm sure she didn't mean to ignore Girl A's plight but one could not help but wonder if Girl B was simply being too task oriented. In this scenario, Girl A was simply being courteous by informing the person in charge that we was going to be late. Key word - INFORM. She was not asking for permission to be late. Thus, the conversation should have gone like this:

Girl A: Hey I have a problem here, I won't not be able to make it on time for the weekday practices because I knock off at 6 and it takes me at least an hour to get here.

Girl B: Oh, is there anyway for you to knock off earlier?

Girl A: I'm really sorry but I cannot leave before 6.

Girl B: Ok then, I'll take note of it.

Bonus statements which could be made by Girl B:
1) Thanks for being available.
2) Please make sure you grab something to eat on the way here yah...

Personally, I would have prefered this set of dialogue but I guess we often find ourselves becoming like Girl B, too task oriented and thus missing the obvious need - showing that we understand and that we empathise with the situation.

Not too long ago, I too was at the receiving end of such insensitvity. I was having a very bad flu on the day of choir practice so I had to see a doctor before that. A fellow choir mate was sweet enough to drive me to the clinic so that I didn't have to rush. But there were a lot of people at the clinic so I made a courtesy call to the person in charge to INFORM her that I was still at the clinic and that my friend will send me down after that. And what did the person in charge say to me? "Oh...then what is the earliest time you can be here?" Duh??? I'm in the clinic cos' I was sick and all you are concern about is what time I can get there??? Can somebody show me some love?

I realised that both the above incidents happend around the same time.... during Easter/Missions/Cell Conference period. This is the period where Church is at its busiest and everyone is very busy...maybe a little too busy "serving" God and getting people "saved" and we forget to let God's touch our neighbour by simply loving the people serving with us. I pray that this year will be different for us. Let us appreciate our co-labourers in Christ and not take them for granted. Let us not just reserve God's love for the people who don't know God. And because we cannot give what we don't have, let us make sure that we are all first filled with God's love...via each other. Let us be real.