Chuck and Servanthood
Chuck Norris destroyed the periodic table because the only element Chuck Norris recognizes is the element of suprise
Once I was trained up and I had learned the ropes, they knew I was the type of working they could trust to handle a department by himself. Now the nature of the lumber department makes it very difficult to run on your own. There is equipment that requires 2 people to operate, 3 product call areas(the buttons you can push that play the message, “Assistance is needed in…) and lots of heavy stuff to load on to carts and into vehicles. While working the department alone, you relied heavily on people in other departments. Most people were very helpful, but some would say…
That’s not my job.
Those words still make me cringe. And for the life of me I couldn’t understand where that mindset came from. We all wore the same color vest, surely they could lend a hand when I had more customers than I could handle(I’m looking at you flooring.) Suffice it to say that when certain other departments might need coverage help I wouldn’t feel very eager to lend a hand. Then I would remember an interaction I had with Chuck.
It was closing time one night during the spring. We were finishing things up in our department, sweeping and straightening and such, when we got a call. The garden center needed help. They were swamped all day and now things were a mess. As we grabbed our brooms and headed towards the garden center, Chuck said to me:
They don’t use their time wisely and wait until the last minute to clean up. Now half the people are out the door and we are cleaning up their department. Do you ever see them down here when we need help?
*Sigh*
But that’s not what its about.
Now I hope you didn’t get caught up in the first part of what Chuck said. He was venting, it’s the last part that sticks with me. Our day was busy too, so there was some brief frustration when told that instead of being done, there was some ‘extra’ work for us in another department. But it’s the last part that matters. Its not about reciprocity, or being fair, its about doing what’s right.
You know, when we got down to the garden center and helped them clean up, we all had a pretty good time. They were good people and were very grateful for the help. When you lay down all the pride and pretense and just serve other people , it can be a great time.