The sender, the message or the messenger. Which one is important?

After hearing that a dog bit the little boy, who delivers the newspapers here, I was very sad this past week.

Another friend of mine also had a clash of words with the boss due to a wrong message from another employee. As she walked over to give her some documents the other employee acted as if she did not exist and totally ignored her. So, she kept the documents and decided to hand them over when she had cooled off. After a while she got a note from the boss stating that she had to go to the office.
The boss said that someone came to her and gave some information that she was working very unprofessionally and had not handed the documents to the person in charge. She defended herself and also asked who gave her that information, because that person did not give her the facts straight. The boss then replied by saying “the message is more important than the messenger”. To which she responded, “yes, you’re right, but being a messenger is not without a risk factor. Because this person gave incorrect information and I know who it is, because there were only four of us in the office and only one left. Even Jesus Christ was a messenger and He was killed so I would think twice before making myself available to become a messenger.” The boss laughed and said she had never thought about that. And then the issue was resolved.

After hearing this story, later my thoughts went back to that conversation and I paused at these three words: the sender, the message and the messenger. I concluded that the sender needs to make a sound decision whom to burden with the task to carry a message. This person has to be responsible, punctual and trustworthy. All these positive characteristics are required to deliver the message to the receiver. The messenger on the other hand needs to be aware of the risk factors and plan or strategise how to deliver the message and return safely. I am just thinking of the profession of a mailman what these persons have gone through by just doing their job: delivering the mail which is in fact a message. I tell myself I would think twice before I make myself available of becoming someone’s messenger. Although I am typing a message right now…I’m confused… Would you become a messenger?