I had to run another phone marathon the other day. Most of you have probably had to do the same at some point in your lives. This one started when I got a bill in the mail with a mistake on it. I knew what getting on the phone to straighten it out would entail but it had to be done. I started by calling the help number on the bill. This led me to the automated phone system with the endless list of options that I had to work through one at a time. Finally I was able to transfer to a person only to be sent overseas with static on the line and a hard to understand operator. And of course they couldn’t help me so I got transferred from department to department while I ground my teeth, rolled my eyes, and clenched my fist. I was about to give up and hang up the phone in frustration when I finally got transferred back to a supervisor in this country.

The line suddenly sounded crisp, clear, and free of static. And the voice that answered was cheerful and full of loving-kindness. I relaxed and smiled in relief. I could actually hear the smile in her voice too. She was polite, understanding, compassionate and helped me to clear up the mistake in no time at all. When we were done I thanked her for her help and wished her a wonderful day. She replied in kind. I hung up tired from my marathon but curiously refreshed as well. And I thanked God for letting me talk with such a good, kind, and loving soul.

I have no ill feelings towards the other operators I spoke to. They were only doing their jobs as best they could. I am grateful to God, though, that I had the patience to hang on long enough to make a connection with a person so full of goodness, joyfulness, and love. She is one of those souls who daily increase the amount of kindness in the universe. She is one of those souls who make the world a better place just by being in it. She is one of those souls whose smile lives in her voice and her life and who makes God smile as well. May we all do the same.