Friday, April 06, 2007

An interesting meeting

Our bank is going through a hardware upgrade. New computers all around including new CPU's and new keyboards. Last night was my branch's turn to get the new equipment. While you'd think we'd be all excited about getting newer faster computers, there was a catch. The techs doing the install couldn't start working until we were closed. And b/c of security issues, someone(s) had to stay the whole time they were installing. To make it worse, for a month we'd been hearing horror stories about the network going down, files being lost, and the work taking 'til 10 or 11 at night. So needless to say, us spoiled little bank brats weren't too keen on hanging around.

The bank uses Dell network systems and Dell partners with private tech firms who do the actual install. The guy who showed up at my bank yesterday was a short little hairy guy named Dave. At first he was a bit annoying and we were a bit concerned our branch would be added to the horror story list. He was in our way as we tried to close down, he would stop working every time he spoke to us, and he had these little quirks that were just plain getting on our nerves. The nail in the coffin was that he kept stopping to take phone calls. Every time his phone rang, my head teller and I grew more and more annoyed.

About halfway through the job, I overhead Dave talking to his boss about another tech who was leaving soon to smuggle Bibles into China and Hong Kong. To say I was interested was an understatement. Even though it meant him stopping to talk and not work, I asked him about it. Well, that led to much conversation about churches, persecution, God, and so much more. He grew up Pentecostal and AG, and then six years ago married a lady who was a United Methodist Pastor. What a culture shock! I told him about my Missional church thoughts and about the great things happening through Band of Brothers. It was an awesome time. And maybe a little bit of a witness to my head teller who had to sit and listen to us talk. What started as an annoying interaction with a stranger turned into a great conversation with a fellow believer. Life's neat isn't it?

2 Comments:

Blogger 3rd string's finest said...

Wow, Sam. Thats really cool. I love how things work out how they need too rather than how we think they need too. Love ya, buddy. Happy Easter!

1:02 PM  
Blogger kimw said...

Very cool story. God can and does use anyone, eh?

9:13 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home