TCBN

Back in the day, when I first felt called to ordained ministry, the Principal of the College told me to go away, complete my degree, get a job, and come back in five years. For a nineteen year old, who was confident that he was on the right path, this was a frustrating setback. The Principal was absolutely correct.

So I completed my eclectic Arts degree (a smidgen of Biblical and Religious Studies, a scintilla of Greek, a gobful of English and Australian literature, a contemplation of philosophy and the detritus of a few mistakes along the way). Then I headed into the retail trade, working at Grace Bros. in Chatswood, Sydney.

I learnt a lot about sales and a lot more about myself. My first encounter working in sporting and camping goods (ground floor, at the bottom of the escalators, straight ahead of you …)  was with one of the staff whose daughter had been in an horrific car accident. Fran was a wonderful, sad, energetic lady, who disabused me of many of my “christian values” and helped me discover the depth of Christ’s values.

Another of my staff, a young fella fresh out of year 10, had left school because he was no good at reading. We discovered that Derek needed glasses, arranged  a pair for him through eyewear (second floor, to the left of the escalators) and suddenly he moved from being uncertain and ready to fail, to being engaged and keen.

As we all know, and as I had to learn, ministry begins with life – wondrous, appalling, engaging, life. We are, all of us, involved, whether we ask to be, or not. The question for us is whether we will engage, or leave our encounters at arm’s length.

Ministry begins with the inherent worth of others, knowing their value as the image of God. Look at how Jesus engaged with all those around him, at the centre of the community and, most particularly, those on the margins.

We fail if people are simply props for our spiel, targets for our product, whether we are selling cameras (first floor, round to your left) or serving people, offering the Gospel. If the relationship is for our own gain, then we miss the start of the whole Gospel story … for God so loved the world …

On every cash register in Grace Bros. facing the staff, was the sticker TCBN. This reminded us to always “Thank Customer By Name”.  It was a retail thing, but it always reminds me, even now, that each person has a name and is valued beyond measure by God, who knows each name, each story, each failing and each joy.

It is this God to whom we bear witness.