…serving ladies and gentlemen.
This has been the motto of the Greenbrier for decades and every time Janet and I are out in White Sulphur Springs, WV, I can testify to how true it is. The truth be told, as much as we love the physical environment and the land that surrounds “America’s Resort”, it is the people that we know that keep us coming back year after year.
Admittedly, the times have changed throughout the years but there is still a tremendous sense of pride in working at the Greenbrier. I daresay that there are generations of families who have worked there and several of their employees have been there 60 years or more. It’s the only job many folks have ever had. In fact, at 30 or even 35 years of service, you are still “new” to the Greenbrier. That’s not negative, it’s just that people come to work there and stay for the balance of their careers.
Even though people may occasionally “leave” for perceived “greener grass’, they inevitably return to their former positions in short order. The whole place has an atmosphere that almost defies description. And when you get to know some of the staff, it is not unusual for find out that they have relatives in other areas of the resort. It’s like a big family. And they have worked together forever!
Our experience usually starts when we pull up and Dale or one of his team welcomes us back “home” to the Greenbrier. Then, Brent or one of his co-workers comes out and gets our luggage for us while we go to check in. Another bellman, perhaps Jay, brings our baggage upstairs and all along the way, we discuss with each member of the staff what is happening with their families and the Greenbrier itself.
Kathy, who manages the dining room, welcomes us each morning for our breakfast at 9:30 and many of the wait staff know us by name – and the updates continue during our morning routine. Inevitably, we end up on the first morning at the shoe store on site. Deanna is a dear friend who we have known for almost 20 years and her team is the best. We know them all and, in fact, we don’t buy shoes anywhere else!
While we are out there each time, I usually go trout fishing in the mountains with James, a dear friend who has fished with me for more than 25 years. I don’t think of him as a guide as much as I know him as someone who looks forward to our arrival and my time with him. I’ve watched his granddaughter grow up since she was a baby and recently, she graduated from college.
What I am saying here is that all these folks take a great amount of pride in what they do and the standards they set for themselves and each other. Many places have a double standard. Guests expect people to cater to their every whim and that just isn’t the way it is at the Greenbrier. These employees are truly blessed to serve the guests and do their best to show their pride in their work ethic and ability to solve problems that may arise. We have never been anywhere like it.
Whether you are staff or guest, there is an unwritten code that we are all on sacred ground together in this magnificent place and we are there to get along, welcome one another, pray for one another and realize that we are all part of God’s creation. Rev. Greg, one of those who welcomes us to the Greenbrier each visit, always makes sure that we know that he prays for us. Dale, who I mentioned earlier, is in his 52nd year on the driveway and always encourages me to let him know if we need anything! It’s such a rare atmosphere that we are blessed to be a part of it.
Ten years ago, when the area suffered what was referred to as a “1000 year flood”, folks we knew at the resort lost their homes, hung onto trees for hours in an effort to survive the rushing waters and came away with a spirit of helping others before they worried about themselves. Some of the wealthier area residents walked through town passing out money and checks to anyone who needed helped. This was not a government intervention, it was neighbors loving neighbors. Our friend, Roscoe, who was in charge of the men’s facility in the spa area, experienced water so high that it came through the second story of his home. It was decimated…
Hope Village was built to provide housing to those who had lost everything. And the Greenbrier opened its doors so those who needed a place to stay were welcomed, without charge, to stay as long as was necessary. People helping people, ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentleman, people loving one another as we are commanded by Jesus.
Our verse for tonight contains the words of Jesus as re-told by the apostle John. John tells us in his Gospel, in John 15:9-12, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
My encouragement this evening is that we always have the opportunity to show kindness and open the door to create a more loving world. My prayer is that we will all have the chance to experience the unusual kindness and love that Janet and I have experienced in our travels. After all, it is wonderful to be a part of a community that values God and the commands that we have been given to love, and serve, one another well. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…