Extreme Make-over, a story of faith.
Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008
by straight talk
I wrote this article as a follow-up to my last article because I do think it emphasizes that message as well. Now I don't know how many of you have had the opportunity to watch Extreme Make-over Home Edition on TV. In my opinion one of the most rewarding shows on the air. Now the basic theme is to help someone in need. Certainly some can say it is all about ratings and making money and yet placing that aside what is done on this show demonstrates that there are good and decent people all over this land. Average Americans who are willing to give of their time talent and treasure to help another.
The premise of the show is to take people who are struggling and improve their life. Now the part that strikes me week after week most profoundly are the signs and symbols of the people they are helping. What I mean is, what kind of people they help?
Well in all cases these are just not people in dire need of help but the fact that these people give freely to help others with their time, talent and treasure from what little they have. Yes, they give what little they have to help others and get this, they impact the community they live in. This is a fact. believe it or not, that those who have the least give the most. Does that make a statement or not? "Where your heart lies". Certainly in some cases it is a sick or handicapped love one but the majority of time for complete strangers. They live in squaller or broken down homes unfit for much yet they don't complain much. They do hope and have faith that perhaps it will change and they take action on that faith by humbling themselves and asking for help. They have reached the end of the line.
So when the shows team arrives they walk around that broken down shell of a home to see how bad it is and what they need and as the camera scans that environment one, that is one who is always keen to notice, could see the signs and symbols all about. What are they? Well religious images, Crucifixes, a bible, a picture. One can hear it in their words of thanksgiving. What does this say? It says these are not only people who profess but they are people who do. Yes by their works we shall know them.
Yes and upon return to their new home and upon entering, they in the majority of cases always say "Oh my God". Now is that an expression, a word? Yes it is, but it is also an expression of prayers, faith, hope answered in an overwhelming way. As they survey their new home once again the signs and symbols of that faith are on the new walls. Why, because it is just that, an outward expression of their beliefs and no more. They do not pray to it no it speaks to who they call LORD. Anyone entering the home sees that profession without a word ever being uttered.
So now we now see the offshoots coming on the air. Yes, because of the success of that show. If that is what it takes to help others then that is good. Yet, I cannot help to wonder, as I believe many do, why we who have and profess allow others to suffer? Why do we allow the systems, the works, the deeds of uncaring, selfishness, greed, exploitation and all the others to exist?
Now I am not a complicated man. I deal with realities and I can also dream of what could be. If and that is a major if, we are who we profess to be, then why do leaders dare to stand before men of all walks of life and sadly and arrogantly say they are there to help when by what they have done or failed to do brings so much pain and misery to others?
Why are we quick to ship our money off for church projects around the world [not a bad thing] but are content to see our fellow citizens in disarray, poor, broken in need? Should not we fist take care of our own? Why are we so quick to want our names on some sanctuary or new church's wall but so slow to give our money to help a neighbor in distress, out of work, with their home breaking down around them. Then call the code enforcement because we are upset their lawn is not trimmed to our specks or the house is not painted or their car lays unfixed in their driveway?
Yes, why do we need a TV show to watch and say, boy is that great, that's nice when our community can do the same? Dreamer, yes I am. I see it each day in the signs and symbols of us all as we run to and fro without much of a care for our fellow human beings. No, certainly not all, but the majority.However, we love to be noticed in church and sit in high places. We promise and profess but do not deliver. We do as Paul says, I do that which I do not want to do.
Yes, it is not only people in the homes on this TV show it is our very nation, our leadership and yes our very character that in my opinion needs An Extreme Make-over. It is about time we change individually but in doing so we change our nation. We all can do this by doing what these people do, uniting for a common good. We can send out the word, we take action with our vote and contacts. Yet, to continue to allow what has fallen upon many in this land we will all pay for directly or indirectly.
So we can continue to believe in those who say exactly what they believe in and who have done by their works and deeds that we now have upon us and we can continue to ignore and vote for them. That is our free choice and that is where our responsibility is, in our works and our deeds we shall also be known.
Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright ©2008 Robert Melaccio
This Article has been viewed 111 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.