A few weeks ago our windshield got clobbered by a flying rock as we were driving down I-69 through Fort Wayne.  We are pretty sure the rock came from the load carried by the dump truck in front of us, but we are not sure, however, so we will not be those who cast the second stone.  The question of guilt being unresolved, we used our insurance to have a replacement windshield installed.  It is an all’s well that ends well story.

The story having ended well, the national company that did the windshield replacement wanted us to respond to an online survey evaluating their work.  In fact, the local shop sent us an email asking us to be looking for the survey and told us that that they would consider anything less than a 9 or 10 on the 1 to 10 scale a huge disappointment. My guess is that the manager of the local shop may win a trip to Las Vegas if he averages 9 or better on his customer surveys.

I am quite satisfied with our windshield replacement, but I am afraid the local shop may be hugely disappointed in my evaluation.  I’d say a 7 means they did all they were asked to do and maybe even a little more.  But frankly, they did not surpass all my expectations.  Sorry about the trip to Las Vegas.

You must give me a 9 or 10.  I have to have an A to keep my GPA.  Teacher and professor friends tell us about grade inflation and inflated student expectations.

I’ve been thinking about grade inflation and customer satisfaction surveys as we prepare for today’s trip to the Philadelphia area.  I have been invited back to Langhorne Presbyterian Church where I have the honor and privilege of preaching at the ordination service for our friend Tyler who has been called to be Assistant Pastor at the church.  We hired Tyler as Youth Director a few years before I left Langhorne and now he’s finished seminary and is ready for his first pastoral call.  It is a story of God’s good work among us.

Tyler may be hugely disappointed in me, however.

Oh, I’m hoping the sermon will be good enough, maybe a 6 or 7 if all goes well.  What I am concerned about is the reference form I filled out a few months ago.  Part of our denomination’s long ordination process involves the candidate asking some people who know him well to complete an evaluation of skills and potential for ministry.  There are some short essay questions to answer, but also some of those “on a scale of” questions, in this case 1 to 5 (from “seriously deficient” to “exceptional”).  3 is “average” and 4 is “above average.”

I did not give Tyler all fives; there were a few fours.  My thought is that as skilled as he is and as great a potential for ministry as he possesses, there’s a chance Tyler might get better at ministry the longer he is in it. I was giving him room for improvement. In fact, I think some of those fours are very likely to become fives over the course of time.  But, Tyler, don’t plan on the trip to Las Vegas right now.

Garrison Keillor used to tell us about Lake Wobegon where “…all the children are above average.” In our world, above average is no longer good enough.  All our repair shops must be rated nine or above.  A trip to Las Vegas depends on it. Sometimes, though, above average is quite good and more than we expect.

From his first employment interview, I was pretty sure Tyler would be at least an above average Youth Director.  The initial 4 became a 5 in quick order.  What I did not expect is that Tyler would become an exceptionally fine friend.  What a privilege to preach at the service on Sunday.

Sunday is going to be a good day.  Christ will be honored and the whole church will be better for it.