There are very few things in this world that truly annoy me. (getting pooped on by a bird, people who walk in the street when there is a sidewalk, etc.) But in the last few months I have developed a genuine distaste for a new annoyance and up until recently I really couldn’t tell you why. I like McDonald’s sweet tea, so naturally I find myself in the drive thru of McDonald’s on a regular basis. I have to ask, am I the only one who can’t STAND the pre-recorded “it’s a beautiful day to try a new (insert food/drink item here)” messages that you are greeted with every time you go through the drive thru?
We all know the speakers and microphones on the drive thru are one of the best examples of HORRIBLE technology in the first place, but the pre-recorded messages that blares out of them now are just adding insult to injury. Well, maybe not injury, but at least annoyance.
I think it bothers me because the drive through experience is already impersonal enough, adding a pre-recorded message to the whole encounter gives me the same feeling I have when I call my bank and have to sit through three minutes of “automated menus” before I can talk to a live person. (add that to my list of annoyances)
But enough about that, I actually don’t want this to be a rant on my annoyances in life, even though that’s how it’s started. I’m sharing these thoughts because of something I read last night in a book I started reading. The title of the book is “The Jesus Way”, by Eugene Peterson. In the introduction of the book he makes a truly brilliant observation about the message and “way” of Jesus…
“The prevailing ways and means cirricula in which we are all immersed in North America are designed to help us get ahead in whatever field of work we find ourselves: sales, and marketing, politics, business, church, school and university, construction, manufacturing, farming, laboratory, hospital, home, playground, sports. The courses first instruct us in skills and principles that we are told are foundational and then motivate us to use these skills so that we can get what we want out of this shrunken, dessicated world, flesh and devil field. And of course it works wonderfully as long as we are working in that particular field, the field in which getting things done is the end.
When it comes to persons, these ways of the world are terribly destructive. They are highly affective in getting ahead in a God-indifferent world, but not in the community of Jesus, not in the Kingdom of God.”
After reading that I realized that Jesus’ “way” truly isn’t of this world at all. Peterson goes on to reference how we’ve allowed the world’s “way” to influence our churches and cites that as a main reason why so many “Christians” are so consumer based in their pursuit of their faith. I don’t want to pursue Christ as a consumer, last time I checked the word, it read that He was the consuming fire, not us. We aren’t supposed to be consumers, but be consumed.
I think that’s truly why the pre-recorded messages at the drive thru bother me so much. We live in such a “disconnected” world already, and to take something that is already disconnected and figure out a way to make it even more disconnected is truly disturbing.
…or maybe I’m just mad because I have to wait an extra 13 seconds to get my sweet tea.
peace,
Greg
I am also bothered by those pre-recorded messages. But for me, the annoying thing is that the person with the headset (the one who will end up taking your order) doesn’t even care if you answer the question being asked in that message. It’s illogical to ask a question but not expect an answer. My thinking is highly logic based and I can’t stand it when people don’t make sense.
I also agree with the sentiment about not seeking Christ as a consumer. I’ve never understood it when my grandparents told me that if you go to church you have a better relationship with God or you’re more likely to go to heaven or any of that. Going to church is a way to socialize with people who likely have similar faiths and beliefs as yourself, talk/debate with intelligent people, and then build healthy networks with good people to where you can get good things done in your community. So often, I think people see being a good christian as building your XP in a video game where all you have to do is be around and you earn points. When really, it’s all about how you live all throughout the week… not just Sunday morning. I haven’t been to church in quite some time… but what I feel like I’m missing out on is interacting with good people, not points with God.
By the way, I finally have Sundays off of work! See you then.
I have the same distaste for smart phones. Drives me mad. What’s even worse, is that I was forced to get one by the changing needs and pace of the world.
Also on my list of annoyances.
-People who only text message. People who even have serious deep conversations OVER text message.
-People who don’t understand the appropriate usage of a traffic circles. There is one I pass through two times a day going and coming from work and I SWEAR that a 4-way stop would be more efficient for these American hicks. There are 2 lanes – use them. And don’t stop before you enter.
-Those dang annoying restaurant birthday songs! We ALL know that it’s not your birthday! But oooo no! They have to interrupt my wonderful dinner and stimulating conversation by having a bunch of waiters and waitresses who ALREADY hate their lives to share their very apparent agony with the REST of the restaurant. They should check ID’s.