Mystery Shopper

Recently, the pizza place where my husband worked had a mystery shopper. To the manager’s delight, the driver received 100% and the pizza received 98%. My husband was the driver. One of the reasons the boss was so happy was because apparently the last time there was a mystery shopper, they did not get good marks at all.

Mystery shoppers are a great tool. They can be used to discover a problem, or to reward excellence. And because of the anonymity, it is important to treat every customer with the utmost courtesy and professionalism. Where Dave works, it is important for each pizza to be perfect, or nearly so. Let’s face it; while some customers might call to complain, very few ever call to say how happy they are with the service. And even those who are unhappy frequently just say, “I’m never ordering from there again” and no one ever knows why.

It occurred to me how nice (maybe?) it would be to have this kind of feedback in my personal life. What would happen if I knew that any time I even think about taking a bite of something – there was the possibility of someone knocking at my door and barging into my home to check it out. It might make me a little more cautious about the food I was putting into my mouth. I might be more careful about eating the nutritious things I should be eating instead of food with empty calories. I might stop altogether before I put that food in my mouth, instead of regretting it afterwards.

And what about my attitude? What if someone showed up every time I got mad, or every time I said an unkind word? Hmmm, maybe I need to rethink my mystery shopper. I’m not sure I would get very high marks.

But you know what; I DO have a Mystery Shopper. He is with me every step of the way. He knows when I am struggling with food or with my attitude. I’m sure I disappoint Him over and over again.

“…And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NIV)

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39, NIV)

I guess I really just need to be more aware of His presence in my life. I don’t think He is there to condemn and make me feel guilty every time I mess up. His presence is meant to be a comfort.