Ring, Ring

It goes something like this:

“Ring-ring. Ring-ring.”
“Hello?”
“Hello! This call is for Dr. G. If you are that person, please stay on the line.”

The alternate form is:

“Ring-ring. Ring-ring.”
“Hello?”
“Hello! This call is for Dr. G. If you are not that person, please hang up now.”

Sound familiar? Such a warm, positive voice. Friendly; you can almost feel the smile on the other end. You’ve got about five seconds to respond. As you know, it isn’t a real person speaking to you. If you don’t hang up, somewhere in the world a computer screen will begin flashing, “WE’VE GOT A LIVE ONE!” And a REAL PERSON will come on the line and begin their spiel.

It may be from your insurance company, letting you know that you’ve just become eligible for a new service you simply can’t do without. Or, perhaps, the alumni office from a school you attended for one term. They want you to contribute to the new building for the Performing Martial Arts and Sciences program. If you’ve done business with the Fire and Rescue service, they may be looking for funding for new tires for the ambulance you helped purchase ten years ago. Again, it is possible that it may be a collection agency looking for a past due payment on a credit card you cancelled several years ago. Or a student loan re-finance offer. Or….

No matter who it’s from, one thing is sure. They want access into your pocketbook. Do you stay on the line, or hang up? If you hang up, they’ll be back. It’s like they want your very soul.

God has an automatic calling system, too. Conscience, we call it. He promised to whisper from behind, letting us know whether to turn to the right or the left.

Have you noticed that there isn’t any qualifying, “if” when the call comes? It’s always for us, and if we hang up on Him, He’s persistent: you know He’ll call back. However, unlike the other callers, He doesn’t want our money; He is after our souls. Have you let the Heavenly computer screen flash, “We’ve got a live one!” recently?

Can someone catch that phone for me? I’ve got my hands full here.

Dr. G