My passport expires in October. The U.S. Passport Department thoughtfully sent a reminder via email last fall to renew it. Taking advantage of this timely message, I filled out the necessary paperwork, updated my photo to the older version of me, and paid the $130 fee. I could expect my new passport in early February. How convenient.
My passport never arrived.
When it was four months overdue, I wondered if I had been duped. I made several inquiries. Fear arose about the status of my information.
Was Bardito Lishkowski drug trafficking in Barbados?
Or 芭芭拉 Lei-ko, running arms?
I was no closer to a solution. The chatbots were worthless. I began reminiscing about the good ol’ days when humans helped humans, not scammed them. Time was wasting, and Demitri Fyodor Lishenko was probably using a fake passport with my credentials to smuggle weapons.
I decided to try old-school. I got an appointment, procured the required documents, photos, payment, and documentation of my failed attempts.
That appointment was yesterday.
I was naïve enough to presume this important task would be accomplished through the kindness of fellow human beings who are paid to do this.
Entering the imposing structure fifteen minutes early, as instructed, I passed the security screening, allowing me entry into the edifice of human help. Locating the machine that produced the golden ticket which granted me a number in the queue, I sat down to wait. An electronic voice summoned me to window seventeen.
Jezebel sneered at me from behind thick bulletproof glass. I started explaining that I was here to renew my…
“So, what do you want from me?”
Help?
“You’re going to have to start all over since you came here.”
Grabbing a pile of papers and handing them to me, she flatly stated,
“Fill all this out in black ink and get a new number when you’re done. We close at 4.”
Quickly finding a seat, I briefly glanced over the instructions and put pen to paper. Page two began with questions about my parents’ names and information. I paused, confused. I’m sixty-seven, not ten, and have had a passport for over forty years. The question was poorly worded; of course I messed up. (You know, with the black nonerasable ink.) So, I simply drew a line through and made corrections. (Several times). I obtained my new number and waited.
Maleficent, the new face behind the bulletproof window, was already impatient. Her short, snippy response after seeing my paperwork was, “I can’t take this form with all these lines on it. Do it over.”
At that moment, I was sixteen years old all over again, but this time in line at the DMV. I was getting my first driver’s license. The girl in front of me was crying because she had filled out the application incorrectly and Lord Voldemort was giving her the business. He gave me my paperwork. I intended to fill it out carefully, but because I was so worried about doing it wrong, I did it wrong. I would be his next victim.
If you hate your job that much, you should move on, lest you become the evil villain of future tales. The two women I barely interacted with had the same intimidating presence as Darth Vader, evoking a bad memory.
Has it come to this, robots or nasty humans? I know we all have bad days and jobs can become monotonous and customers frustrating. I was friendly to both, despite the cold shoulder in return. It doesn’t have to be this way. We can all make an effort to reflect God’s light and goodness into an increasingly dark world. Light begets light. Love, joy, kindness, peace, and happiness can be a normal part of everyday if we make the effort, even when it is not returned.
“For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Matt 5:46
It must start with us. We can be the difference that makes a difference by letting Christ’s light fill the otherwise pervading darkness. We have the power given to us through our Baptism by the Holy Spirit to transform lives. Sometimes it is a patient smile instead of an insult, or a cheery thank-you even if all you received was poison.
“You are the light of the world. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Matt 5:14,16
I have experienced these same people and decided to “kill them with kindness “ as you did.
I have decided to pray for these folks and try to have compassion for what they’re going through instead of judging them.
What strikes me is that they haven’t gotten to the place of trying a totally different strategy to make their day and all their customers’ a little better. It’s so sad! We have to get out there and try to make the world a better place! I’m in and I know you are too!
I hope you got your passport work done finally!! God bless you, Barb!
I am always trying to kill people with kindness myself but the struggle is real. Sometimes I want to wear a sign that says, “I could be a lot meaner but choose to not to be” I a cradle catholic, have the fear of our heavenly father on my soul so I bite my tongue a lot. I heard a speaker once say, “they can scream at you, kick you, and throw you off a bridge. .. but Jesus died for them too” so I try to live through that lense. You drive me crazy!! But Jesus died for them too, they’re here for a reason whether it teaches me patience or draws me closer to holiness.