Beech Tree News Network

PLEASE HOLD:  I would venture a guess that at least 95% of us whom are old enough to interact with others on a business level of some kind, which involves a telephone conversation, has heard the phrase, “Please hold” on more than a few occasions. Now, if you are lucky enough to actually be already talking to a human being, then you probably said, “sure” when they asked if you could hold while they looked up some pertinent or relevant information. In this age of technology though, you more than likely have heard a computer generated voice telling you to, “please hold for the next available representative,” when you called with some inquiry about a certain situation. How many of y'all actually enjoy interacting with a computer over the phone? As for myself personally, I absolutely hate trying to interact with a computer generated voice, only responding to a determined code of some kind, it ranks right up there with “browsing” in a superstore, on my list of fun things to do.

I do not know the first business which made the decision that it would be a good idea for a computer to answer your call and give you a list of options to choose from, I am sure that their reasoning had something to do with saving money rather than pay an actual human being to answer the phone and interact with you. I think it is one of the worst decisions ever made, right up there with putting dill pickles on, well anything. Am I wrong here or would most of us strongly prefer to deal with another human, rather than a machine?

I am like that in just about every area of my life, I want know my insurance agent, I want to actually look someone in the eye and know where to find them, if I need to take out a loan, I want my physician to know me and treat me as a person, not just a disease to be managed. I am a person and have no desire to interact with strangers long distance about the details of my life, or with machines who can not respond, except in a programmed way.

Technology is great in some ways allowing almost miraculous advances in our culture in so many ways but in one very important way it has failed miserably. While it has allowed us to communicate with ease and over vast distances we have lost a lot of the ability to truly connect with our family, friend and community. I remember one time specifically, when a small business owner went out of his way for me. I was looking for a specific type of steel toed footwear, good both in slippery conditions and in not allowing sharp objects to puncture. He ordered the boots I found suitable but there was a delay in shipping. He actually came to my home with replacements, until my boots arrived. You won't find that kind of customer service in the superstores. We have also lost some of the connection took for granted, especially in rural areas, of just a few generations ago. We don't truly engage in the triumphs, joys, struggles and hopes of those in community with us. With the ease of communication, the work of; connection, has been asked to, “please hold,” until we have more time, more energy, more resources or are not quite so busy.

It is easy to feel lost and out of place in such a world. A lot of times, when you are facing tough times or situations people will, in all sincerity, tell you that, “if you need anything just call.” For me personally, it is not often any-thing; that I need, it simply is just another human being, willing to connect and share and not let me get lost.

WILL YOU FIND ME?

If I lose my way along my journey

will you come and find me?

Will you reach out to the part of the soul, which searches vainly?

Will you look deep, for the scared child,

masked in bravado and subterfuge?

When blackness threatens to overwhelm

and perceived isolation, suffocates;

when fear invades my home,

please! come and find me.

When I showed vulnerability did it make me weak?

Do I stand alone? Or are you by my side?