The Biggest Little Apology

Kristen Strong, over at Chasing Blue Skies, has a link-up every Thursday, where people can share surprising ways God worked in their lives. This story below goes along with her theme for today, and I'm so grateful to revisit this part of my life today. It reminds me to think as I interact with others!!

 I realize many of y'all who have come across the land of Bekah's Bits have done so since I started working at WBCL. You missed the decade {plus five more years if you include my student worker years, which I do} when I worked in the Financial Aid Office.

Ohhhhhhhhhh the stories I could tell you. The book I could write of life in finaid. Unfortunately most of those stories can't be told...but I can say this {along with probably anyone else who works in customer service}. People can be so rude. So heartless. So flat out thoughtless.

Money is a big deal. I get that. Paying for college requires a lot of money...a lot more than most families have. The burden to creatively pay for college without being in debt to the fourth generation is a heavy one. All these things stir up worry, high blood pressure, and in some - the lack of a filter. The lack of awareness that the person across the desk is a real person with real feelings and perhaps...just perhaps...a genuine interest in seeing families succeed in finding ways to fund college.

At least it was like that in good old 240F. {That was where I sat.}

In my time there, I was called all manner of names - many of which cannot be repeated on this blog or on the airwaves I now share with Lynne. I was yelled at - and by that, I mean literal, certified screaming. I was threatened with the good ole "I'm calling my lawyer." Many times I got the "If you're not going to do anything, then give me to your supervisor." And one time - near the very end of my time there, a student told me she didn't even think I was a Christian.

That one crossed the line.

I went to my supervisor and told her I was happy to take most forms of abuse at the hand of non-filtered parents and students, but I was not...I repeat not...willing to have someone make a judgment on my faith and commitment to Christ over a disagreement about a loan.

Most of it wasn't personal, and I knew that, though it made the tirades, angry letters, threats, and foul language no more pleasant to experience. But what bothered me most was that in nearly all circumstances, the people involved seemed oblivious to what they did. I worked at a Christian college, and while I'm sure not all families were Christians...most made a profession of faith. It blew me away that those same people had no issue calling up a stranger and running her into the ground over money - and never once did they have a twinge of conscience about it.

At least any twinges that led to action.

Except...her. Somewhere out there in this world is a woman...a mother of one of my students. I called her right before five o'clock one evening. Right before my work day ended and my evening of fun was scheduled to begin. I thought I was calling to answer a simple question...and hung up with my professionalism and self-esteemed clawed right out of my body.

Ten minutes after five, I hung up the phone, stared at the wad of tissues on my desk and gave up trying to see her point of view. I did try. But she was impossible. I didn't even care about my evening anymore. I just wanted a frappe and a nap to try to push away the crying-hangover headache that settled between my eyes.

A few days later, I found mail from this mother. Information I requested.

And a note of apology. Just a few lines...but an effort.

I knew in my heart that she might never respect me as a counselor...and she might never know how much I genuinely desired to help her...but I deeply appreciated her brief apology.

Perhaps the biggest little apology I ever had in that line of work.