I needed some cash the other day so I drove to my Wells Fargo bank only to find that the drive-up ATM was out of service. The screen said something like, “This ATM is out of service. Call this number to find the location of other Wells Fargo ATMs.” 

I’m embarrassed to say that my first thought was, “Great. The nearest Wells Fargo is about 20 minutes away.” Then it dawned on me: the bank was open! Why not just park, go inside and…wait for it…speak to a live teller. I got the cash I needed and had a pleasant conversation with an actual person in not too much more time than the ATM would have taken.

I’m not sure what the cosmic lesson is. I do wonder why the Out of Service message on the ATM itself wouldn’t say, “The ATM is out of service, but our friendly tellers are inside, waiting to serve you from 9 a.m to 5 p.m.” I also wonder why I didn’t think of going inside before I tried to think of where the nearest ATM was.

Maybe the ATM sign should have said, “This ATM is out of service, but the bank isn’t!”

GOD answered Moses, “So, do you think I can’t take care of you? You’ll see soon enough whether what I say happens for you or not.” (Numbers 11.23, MSG)