You bet your life, sharing works!

You bet you life DVD

The other day my husband Ian and I were watching old episodes of "You bet your life!" with Groucho Marx. The show really held up in humor over all the years since it originally piloted on television in 1949.

The premise of the show is rather simple. Groucho interviews his contestants and eventually asks them quiz questions where they can win varied amounts of prize money. When a couple wins the greatest amount of prize money, they have the choice to spin a wheel for a chance to greatly increase their winnings. In most cases, the couples that win the quiz part decide to keep what they have already won, instead of trying for the big money.

In contrast to the game shows of current day, if a contestant won $500.00, they would eagerly go after any opportunity to win more money. Today, the $500.00 dollars simply wouldn't be enough.

One other thing I noticed was the willingness to share that was displayed by the contestants on "You bet your life". Groucho asked a couple of contestants what they were going to do with their winnings, and one woman was going to forward her winnings to an orphanage in Korea and the gentleman was going to give a percentage to a family in need and some to a missionary cause of the day. I looked at my husband after hearing that and said, "Man, that would not be what people would do today!"

All this got me thinking on the idea of sharing, and how powerful it can be. In a day were individuality is so important, how could the act of sharing affect the world around us? If I were to go on a game show today and win the big money, what would I be inclined to do with it?

Last summer my daughter and I had a great opportunity to go to Pittsburgh and see Shane Claiborne and the traveling music/nomadic/community group Psalters. I'm greatly challenged by their words in regard to their call to end poverty by simply sharing what we already have. I suppose some of this challenge comes to me in light of the weariness of our economy in the US, as well as the underlying panic over financial and employment issues that are present in the hearts and lives of so many people nationwide and in my own community as well.

Some may say that the Psalters approach to life is too simplistic for our complex world, or maybe a little strange or counter cultural. I don't think that the Psalters philosophy would have seemed so counter cultural in the 1950's, when people could go on a game show with the intention of giving the money away. Today, we'd be more likely to buy something for ourselves. Just when did this switch from sharing to consumption occur in the world?

I don't have this all figured out, but the contrast over time in society's willingness to share is shocking. Contentment is a characteristic that is too seldom seen in the world today. If only we'd realize that contentment is never something that can be bought or won. Contentment is a gift, and one I better learn how to live with as well.

The group Psalters challenge me. The people who went on that game show in the 1950's and gave their winnings away challenge me too. Both groups of people had the gracious ability to be content in all circumstances, as I should. Yes, we need to be present and supportive for each other in all times, but in addition to this how could life's purposes shift in the perspective of contentment and sharing?

Phillipians 4:10-14
10I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

14Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

“Share everything. Don't take things that aren't yours. Put things back where you found them.” -Robert Fulghum

“The "art of tea" is a spiritual force for us to share” -Alexandra Stoddard

Sunny and rainy day friends

There are two kinds of friends in the world: Sunny day friends and rainy day friends. This is a statement that my Mom used to remind me of when I was in the midst of drama or conflict with one school friend of another. There are lots of people that we define as friends, but they are really acquaintances. Two men were out hunting in the northern U.S. Suddenly one yelled and the other looked up to see a grizzly charging them. The first started to frantically put on his tennis shoes and his friend anxiously asked, "What are you doing? Don't you know you can't outrun a grizzly bear?" "I don't have to outrun a grizzly. I just have to outrun you!" This story is funny, but it does help define the distinct difference between a rainy day friend and a sunny day friend. The sunny-day-friend is more concerned with watching out for their own health and wellness, than their friends' wellbeing. On the other hand, a rainy day friend is willing to take risks, work fo

FCE - Dog stroke in spine

Kahlúa is our 15 year old dog that we adopted from the Humane Society when she was four. She joined our family and has been with us for eleven years so far. This morning we found her laying on the carpet in the dining room and was unable to get up and go outside. After letting her rest for a few hours, I gave her some bread to eat and she got up. She was wobbly so I scooped her up and took her outside to go to the bathroom. She managed to remain standing for a few minutes, but was back down quickly. Her back legs did not want to support her even though she was trying to walk. By this point, she had begin to cry so I called the vet and they said to bring her in for an evaluation. My kids and I tearfully wrapped her up in a blanket and drove to the vet. It seemed as if we were sitting in the waiting room forever. The vet told me that her heart, eye function, and lungs were great - also taking into consideration her age of 15! The problem seemed to be FCE - firocartilanginous embolism: w

Gifts we have to give

So often people will think of the areas of life that they fall short or what may need some improvement. I think there is some wisdom in knowing where we need some work as humans, but I also feel it is equally important to learn, foster and use the gifts each one of us are instilled with. So here is the challenge or question that I'd like to present: "What gift(s) has God given to you that can be used in the care and ministry of loving others?" How have you seen that gift used in the past? How would you like to use it? If you dream big and I dream big together - how could God work in that big pool of gifts in the lives of others??? Let's share our gifts today and dream of what they can accomplish for God's purpose! 1 Peter 4:8-10 (New International Version) 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others,

Uphill idealist

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