Sunday, March 23, 2008

It's Big Give, NOT Big Giveaway

Derr.

Not only was I wrong about the name of this show, I think I might have been wrong about the show, period.

I watched it again tonight. Each contestant had 24 hours to give away $100,000. They could give up to $500 per person and up to $10,000 per location. The challenge was to give away all $100,000 before the 24 hours were up, as creatively as possible. But the gifts could not be the cash itself. It had to be in a different form. I watched one contestant buy groceries for the first 100 people to enter a grocery store in an impoverished area of town. I watched one contestant send 20 random people in a Target on a 5 minute shopping spree, up to $500 each. Turns out one of those 20 people was living in a homeless shelter at the time with his family. I saw one man buy truckloads of electronic equipment and hand deliver them to the doorsteps of impoverished neighborhoods. Another guy paid off outstanding debts on remaining cars in a mechanic shop. One woman bought $10,000 worth of bus and rail passes for a charity that helps foster girls make the transition from foster homes out into the real world.

I was moved by the reactions of the people who received. They raised their hands toward God. Genuine joy and thankfulness. A light of hope shown in their eyes. Something that said, it's been real hard but I know I can make it now. And at that point it wasn't about the contestants. It was about the people whose lives were changed. The contestants themselves weren't thinking of themselves but of the best way to help people in need. It was about the contestants searching within themselves to meet the challenge, not about competing with each other.

And as I sat on my couch watching others help, I thought, am I doing what I can? Not...I wish I had $100,000 to give away. Just...to help meet a need. To just open my eyes, look around me, and give. Personally. Purposefully. If I wondered any further about the contestants, or Oprah, or Simon Cowell, I remembered my butt on the couch. And if I were to ask Jesus about them, he would ask why I was asking and tell me to worry about myself.

And I think that T.V. is one thing, and someone's personal life is another. That the purpose and workings of a T.V. show could be set apart, to an extent, from the purposes and workings of an individual life. Maybe. And that it doesn't really matter anyway. The point is the 8 yr old boy wrapped his arms around a stranger because his dad could pick the car up from the mechanic shop and take it home that day.

8 comments:

Popcorn said...

Well said FancyP. Awesome post and food for thought.

Julio said...

One of the best memories of my life was to work in a benevolence organization (Second Mile Mission Center)in Stafford Texas, it was so good to bless people in need with food, clothe, furniture, toys, gift cards, etc. God is honored when we do it. Thanks for this post F. Pants.

majorsteve said...

Fancy,

I haven't seen the show, but thanks for setting the record straight..this proves that your are a very fair person.

Tell Seth that I listened to "Bitter Kiss" CD on the way back home from Arkansas. I really love it. Excellent music and message. Both of you are so talented and faithful and deserving of much success in the music biz. Do you have any more CDs on the way?

Julio said...

"Whoever is kind to the needy honors God" Proverbs 14:31b

Anonymous said...

Great post. Loved reading it. We watched and also enjoyed that part. People seemed so thankful.
Well worth watching.
Thank you..

Anonymous said...

Sorry, forgot my name...Barb @ 6justmyopinion.wordpress.com

FancyPants said...

Major,

So glad you liked the CD! Both Seth and I thank you. As to your question about another CD: We've got enough song material for the next record. We're just waiting on the right timing. I'm happy the music was meaningful to you. I'm very sorry to hear about your grandmother. I almost feel like I know her, after hearing from you and your sis. She is no doubt a beautiful woman.

FancyPants said...

Hi Barb! Welcome...

I agree. Well worth watching.