If someone showed up with a good smile and glib tongue and told lies from morning to night— 'I'll preach sermons that will tell you how you can get anything you want from God: More money, the best wines…you name it'— you'd hire him on the spot as your preacher! Micah 2:11 (MSG)
In my daily vocation, I help assess the quality of service companies deliver to their customers. We survey customers to find out what they expect of the company, then assess "moments of truth" when the company interacts with customers in a service situation (a la' "your call may be monitored to ensure quality service"). It works really well when companies are honest about their struggles and are willing to put in the necessary work to improve. I'm happy to say that most of our clients fall into that category and it results in mutually profitable relationships.
There are, however, companies who have hired our group with the desire of having us tell them just what they want to hear: "Your customer service is great!" They don't really want the truth. They want a plaque on the wall telling them they are okay. They want to tell their shareholders that everything is peachy. When we come back with a report that reveals considerable problems, blatant service issues, and customer dissatisfaction, these companies will often:
- Question the data.
- Deny there's a problem.
- Bury the report.
- Show us the door.
It's no different than the people Micah laments in today's chapter. They want someone to tell them exactly what they want to hear, even if it's a lie. The reality is, the truth sometimes hurts. Truth is a mirror in which we see an accurate reflection of self. It's good to see our own reflection, warts and all, even when it's uncomfortable. Truth helps us make mid-course corrections. Truth affords us the opportunity to mature, grow, develop, and improve.
Today, I want to be more open to the Truth – even if it is uncomfortable; even if I don't like what I see in my own reflection.
Wayfarer 