Pinned
For some time my debit card has been less than effective at many fine retail establishments. For some unknown reason chip readers don’t seem to like it very much. And if you’ve ever had a cart full of groceries, a line behind you, and a register that keeps telling you there is an error, you know the anxiety spike that follows.
Of course it won’t let you just swipe it until after a third failure, but that is assuming everything else is working right. I knew I needed a new card, but I just never got around to it. I mean, if you wait long enough, the card will expire and a new one will come anyway, right?
But then my wife had an issue with her card. She, thinking far more clearly, went into a branch and they simply made her a new card that day. On our next trip together to the store as I got frustrated with the machine, she asked why I didn’t do the same. That just made a little too much sense, so I went ahead and went in.
Sure enough, they made a new card in no time at all. They had me put in my PIN, verify it twice, and then I was off! Man I love technology!
Then I went shopping. This time at a grocery store that only takes debit cards and cash. But I’m in great shape, my card is in hand, ready to use. Until it didn’t. “Invalid PIN”. I tried again, “Invalid PIN”. I stepped out of the long line to let someone else pay, while I called the bank.
Automated system…I love technology less.
Let me set a new PIN, but when I put it in, it said I had put it in wrong too many times. Kicked me out to a real person. Ok, technology is cool. The nice lady looked at my card, said that should do it, I’ll send you back to the automated system. Hmmm.
You can probably guess what happened next. I got the same message, except instead of moving me to a person, it said, “Call back next time you need assistance.” I hate technology. Needless to say, I had to go elsewhere for groceries where I could use another card.
Today, I’ll slip back to a branch to try to sort this mess out. Which if I’m honest, I really don’t want to do. What I really wanted was to do it myself. I want to be self-sufficient, and what I do love about technology is all the ways it lets me not need others. I use this blog platform so I don’t need to ask for help from a real web designer. I love YouTube because it taught me to service my own car so I don’t have to burden a friend or pay a shop.
I suppose there are some great points about being self-reliant. But I’ve noticed I tend to do the same thing in life. I waited a year past thinking I might have ADHD to ask for help and a confirming diagnosis. I’ll drive with a check engine light on for years when the problem is something I couldn’t readily fix myself. And worst of all, I forget all the ways God has promised to meet us in our need when we simply turn to him.
“Blessed are the poor in Spirit”, “It’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick”, and “Come to me all you who are weary” are just a few places where Jesus expresses this part of God’s character. I love Isaiah’s words to Israel in some of their worst times:
He gives strength to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Youths may become faint and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:29-31 CSB
How many times do we try to muscle through our weariness? How many times do we fake strength in the midst of our powerlessness? As we approach Easter, the full weight of the gift we received at the cross reminds me that God didn’t let this story of redemption play out because we might need some help, but instead:
For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6 CSB
Helpless is a terrifying word to a people who want to be self-reliant. So my encouragement for you and I both today is to let someone else help you. For me, that starts at the bank. Where does it need to start for you? Let those moments remind you that we have an even greater help in every time of need.
No automated system required.