My workday began with a visit to a local roofing company. Clutched in my hand was a 2-page-long letter written to the owner along with a Zip-loc bag with roofing debris retrieved from my downspout. I wanted to make certain the owner saw the contents of both rather than having them land on either a receptionist's or a manager's desk. The name on the envelope, that of the owner, along with my specific request at least meant there was a chance that was going to happen. I was quite certain my mission had been accomplished by the look on the receptionist's face when I handed over the bag. She wasn't going to keep THAT on her desk.
Last September I had a new roof put on the duplex I live in. It was long overdue, and the replacement of three plywood panels confirmed the necessity. The roofing company did a great job, and I had no complaints until the real rains came and one of my gutters overflowed. I quickly discerned the downspout was plugged when I pulled out my trusty ladder and dug out roofing nails and other material from the plugged opening. However, I was only able to reach down as far as my hand could go, and it was stopped up good. I don't know why I didn't call them then, but I didn't. I should have. I thought about dismantling the downspout but didn't do that either.
We've had some real honest-to-goodness rain this Spring, and the beds underneath that gutter have washed away down to rock. This time I contacted Sarah via e-mail and explained the situation. When I heard nothing back I made a phone call last week.
As you well know, a new roof is an expensive purchase. In fact, I spent most of last gardening season saving for it. I anticipated a "customer service response" to be included in that tidy sum. Instead I received one of those "Due to the time lapse...." and "Our guys went out and checked and determined the downspout would have become plugged anyway." That is an unlikely prospect as there are no trees in the area, nothing that would plug it up, and it had never happened before. It seemed to me they hadn't really checked it out. Alrighty then.
As I pulled out of my garage Easter morning I noticed water seeping out of the downspout. Being one who is prone to impulsive actions, I drug out my ladder and began breaking apart the downspout even though I did not have the necessary tools. What a surprise to find the very top portion crammed with roofing underlayment, old roofing, nails, and other debris! I set it all aside and a plan formed. I would write a letter and deliver it along with the contents to said roofing company.
Anger is not an issue in my life. I have lots of issues, but anger is not one of them. I was, however, absolutely seething. As the morning progressed, the anger increased. I tried to remember how long it had been since I had been that angry, and I couldn't. After my emotions settled I began questioning why I was so angry. It was just a plugged downspout, after all. This is the conclusion I came to: I knew what was causing the situation and someone else came along and said, "No, that's not it at all." I was not heard, and what I said was discounted.
My thoughts then went to another place. How many times, how many ways have I done that very same thing? Listening, actually listening, is an art. Being heard is important. It is often so easy to go into an "uh huh, uh huh" mode when we are interrupted in our daily life. Life is so busy each of us is usually in the middle of something, whether it's a TV program, a book, meal preparation, laundry, work. Stopping and listening is sometimes a conscious act. Often the little ones are the ones who are pushed aside, but being heard matters regardless of the age.
How many times do I treat God with that same disregard, and how does that make Him feel? I spend my days, my life walking with my Father. There is nothing I don't discuss with Him and yet how often do I treat His response to me with little credence, discounting what He says? I don't like being treated that way, and yet that is how I treat my Creator. Definitely food for thought and another wake-up call.
By the way, John called me from the roofing company yesterday afternoon. His apology on behalf of the owner was sincere and genuine. He asked what the company could do to get me back in their good graces. I was offered dinner, flowers. I told him "It's all good," that I appreciated their response. I wasn't looking for anything from them. I simply wanted to be heard. I did tell him though, that I love chocolate dipped ice cream from the Dairy Queen. I was teasing, but we'll see if I was heard.
2 comments:
Yeah, but what about repairs? Did they do that? Or is ice cream enough?
That was the thing of it, Carolyn. There was no damage, simply packed debris in the top 4" of the downspout, which I hand delivered. It took 5 minutes. I felt they simply had not listened to my complaint.
Post a Comment