ME IN MOTION “SANCTUS REAL SPRING TOUR” BLOG DAY 13:
Final Bill
I’m staring at a bill. It is a gas bill. It’s “past due”. I’ve been staring at it for a while. Everytime I sit at the computer it stares back at me. Laughing at me. Taunting me. Mocking me. The funny thing is, nothing in my house is powered by natural gas, so it shouldn’t even be there at all. I moved out of my old house mid-December and cancelled/transferred all the necessary utilities. Even though I prefer to use natural gas for certain things, I was looking forward to dealing with one less bill at my fancy new, all electric house. After about a month of living in my new place I received the “FINAL BILL” from my old address, as expected. I paid this, and moved on with my life. It kind of felt like I broke up with my gas company and the letter just sealed the deal. Well, apparantly my gas company was holding some grudges about our past relationship and 3 months after I had been enjoying my gas free life another letter showed up at the door. I instantly recognized the letterhead logo and I was confused. I qucikly tore open the envelope to see what my ex-gas company could possibly have to say. As I unfolded the crisp white paper my eyes skimmed over an oh-so-familiar phrase, “FINAL BILL”. This time, it was for eighty-six dollars. I was enraged. I clenched my teeth. I grinded my teeth. I made a sound that was almost like a T-rex roar mixed with a horse whinny. My blood boiled. “How could this be? I’ve been gas free for over three months!” I grabbed the phone. I dialed the number only to find myself in entwined in an atomated labrynth of insanity. After what seemed like years waiting for an actual human being to pick up on the other end I tried and tried to no avail to speak some sense into these people. They wouldn’t budge. I asked for the supervisor, the manager, the president, the CEO, somebody! Apparantly there was a “metor discrepancy” and I was still liable for the remaining charges. The only thing I could think of to delay the enevitable was to demand a letter in the mail describing this predicament and simultaniously giving me more time. They sent the letter I requested, and I think today is the day that I have to suck up my pride and pay this ridiculous, undeserved, past due gas bill. I know in the grand scheme this little event in my life will be forgotten quickly. I started to think of people who go through much worse on a daily basis. I am able to pay this unexpected bill, but not everybody could. If this happened to someone else, maybe their heat would be shut off. Maybe a collection agency would begin harassing them. I think maybe God wanted me to know what it feels like to be wrongly accused. To be in a situation that is beyond my power, beyond my control. There are people all around us who are being wrongly accused. Open our eyes today God. Help us to see those who are in situations beyond their control. If we are able to reach out and help, show us how. Teach us to advocate for those who need our help.
dexter