Systemic Issues

Systemic Issues:

I worked at an IT help desk.  During this time, I learned something about change, systems, and people. 

I worked for a company that supported another company that moved from a paper system to an internet based system.  The company supported veterinary clinics across the US.  Therefore, many, many middle aged women, who (as they remind me) have for so long used a paper system, now have to convert to an internet based system.  This causes all sorts of confusion, anger, and all sorts of distress.  My job is to help these women change from the old to the new.  As they would see it, they are changing from a system that works, to a system that is annoying, confusing, and purposeless.  Most of the calls are pleasant, because the women are pleasant, just confused.  I see myself as the man who does not bring them fish, but one who teaches them to fish for themselves.  I try to give more guidance than answers. 

However, as with the case with people, confused people can be pleasant, but they can also be angry.  Their anger then is directed toward the help desk agent (me).  Here is one of these cases:

A woman called who couldn't sign up for the new system (typical).  I gave her guidance.  I told her that in order to sign up everyone had to have an email address.  This did not sit well with her.  (Keep in mind I am not sarcastic to the women, this would just be counter productive.  Also keep in mind this is a rare case, not the typical response.)

"Well, three of my girls don't have email." 

"Well ma'am, what I would recommend is that you go to  Yahoo! or Hotmail and sign them up for a free account.  The way the system works is that you have to have an email address in order to sign up."

"That is crap.  These girls don't want email addresses.  I don't want to sign up for email addresses.  This system is crap."

Right after this conversation, I read 1 Peter 2:4-8.

Believing in Christ is on some level a system of thought and believe.  God created a good world.  Disobedience to him frayed, mutated, or messed up the good creation.  His plan of forgiveness and redemption runs through the work of his Son, Jesus, on the cross.  A recreation begins and ends with him.  Our hearts are changed, our minds renewed.  This is the plan and system of salvation that God established. 

However in 1 Peter 2:4-8, we find that some don't accept or want to accept this system.  Some want to be really, really bad and in that way rebel against the system.  Others want to try to be really, really good so that God owns them salvation.  This is also rebelling against the system; essentially saying, "This system is crap."  In both forms, people find themselves rejecting the work of Jesus to not only change themselves from the inside out, but also all of creation, starting with the heart of man.  In that way, the foundation stone (Jesus) is rejected and he then becomes not a foundation but a "stone that causes men to stumble," one that "makes them fall."  But how precious and how good for those whose foundation is Jesus.