There is something about being served properly.
It’s the age of customer service like never before. Whether in a restaurant or in a shopping centre, whether online or on the telephone, like never before the consumer is meant to be king. The customer is always right.
For all of those noble sentiments in reality things can be very different. Worked to the bone or bitter and cynical about life it can often be the case that when you’re going to get something the quality of service can be somewhat lacking. It’s a gift to be able to give someone the quality of time and attention that makes you believe it’s not just a transaction of money for goods or services that is taking place.
When I lived in Milton Keynes (2010-2012) for a while I also worked in the area. As I did so I had the opportunity to come across a barber in the area. Unlike others, I don’t require much in my haircut – get rid of all hair. Simple. Yet as I discovered, even in that basic requirement, there is a skill, there is a talent, there is a gift.
For the majority of my time in the area this barber was the only person who did my haircut. There was a diligence and a dedication to the task as well as a genuine servant-hearted approach in the task that made the entire experience exhilarating. Yeah, that’s right, I said a haircut was an exhilarating experience – without the need for shampoo and conditioner. Everywhere from my neck up felt as fresh as a fresh thing on a fresh day being refreshing in its freshness to the fresh new world.
It was sad, then, leaving Milton Keynes having to leave this barber. As it transpired there was no other barber who could give that same level of service. Don’t get me wrong, there were barbers who did their bit, some could just about manage the cutting the hair. One or two even managed to get the cut done properly. But that level of service, that level of personal care was lacking.
You can imagine my joy as I discovered that we would be spending some time in Milton Keynes. I deliberately let my hair get to the condition where it would require a touch from a quality barber. It was with eager anticipation that after months I went back to the barber.
The shop he runs is a very busy barber, which you can understand in the light of his excellent approach to service. Running it as he did, there were others who did cuts for him. When I turned up he was in the position where he didn’t need to cut people’s hair anymore because there were other remarkable barbers who followed in his footsteps. Yet when I walked into the shop he took one look at me and brought me into his office for a hearty embrace as though we were long lost brothers! The welcome was a moving experience for me.
Not just that, but he made an exception on seeing an old regular customer. He put out his chair and made the effort to once more fulfil the basic request. I had the time of my life having my head treated like it was the most important thing in the world ever. Not only that, however, I got some insight into how my barber did his business. You would never know he ran things, because he would spend time cleaning up the hairs cut by the other barbers, he would run errands for them, he would sort out any needs they had. He was their servant. He enabled them to get the job done as hassle free as possible.
It is one thing getting your head sorted in such a beautiful way, to then get an insight into service that enhances service was truly a bonus for the ages. As I heard my barber share what was going on, it reminded me of how church is meant to function. People who love to serve doing so and setting an example of service to others enabling them to serve to the best of their ability which in turn presents the best environment for the serving to keep going. In the barbershop I was seeing church life in action. I was seeing the declaration of good news with the demonstration following it.
All that from my barber. You can see why I love the guy.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 