Tuesday, 29 July 2008
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God's Grace Is Like a Helium Balloon....
by mr pine
I never thought it would be so hard to give away free helium balloons.Yesterday, after work I stopped by a nursing home about 5 minutes from my office. I decided to stop by instead of calling, because I think it's easier to say "no" just over the phone. I explained to the receptionist about how I had some leftover helium from a church function and would like to donate some helium balloons to them. She looked at me a bit puzzled and called the director of activities over. After I explained it to him, he wanted to see the balloons. After I showed them to him, he said that they could take the balloons themselves, but not filled. So I gave him the two bags of balloons that I had, and he seemed appreciative, but I still had a half-full tank of helium.
So now I actually had to buy some more balloons. So I went back to the store where I got the tank, not only to get more balloons but also to ask them if they could give me a refund for any leftover helium. They said "no." Then I asked if they knew of any place that accepts donated helium balloons. They said that they had no idea and that no one had ever asked them that before. So I asked if it was alright if I just gave out free balloons to people in the parking lot. They looked at me kind of funny but said that was okay and wished me luck.
Well, there just weren't very many kids around that area. So I decided to go to the Walmart down the road and try it there. I wanted to make sure it was alright with Walmart, so I went to the customer service desk where I spoke with the manager. This was our exchange:
Manager: Can I help you?
Me: Well, I have somewhat of an odd request. I have some leftover helium and some balloons from a church event yesterday, and I would like to use it up. So I was wondering if it was okay if I gave out free balloons at your exit outside.
Manager: What organization are you with?
Me: I'm not with any organization. I just have some leftover helium and the empty tank is due back tomorrow. I tried to give them to a children's hospital and a nursing home, but they didn't seem to want them.
Manager: Is there anything written on the balloons?
Me: No.
Manager: Nothing like any advertising or anything religious like "Happy Easter" or something?
Me: Nope, they're just plain old 12 inch multi-colored balloons.
Manager: You're not going to be handing anything else out or disturbing the customers or asking for donations?
Me: No, unless they find getting free balloons disturbing...
Manager: (still looking at me as if I have some angle) I'd like to see these balloons.
Me: I'd be more than happy to show them to you. They're in my car right now so I'd have to bring them to you
Manager: Why wouldn't the hospital take them?
Me: Well, some people are allergic to latex, and they didn't want to take that risk with sick kids... and actually, the nursing home took some balloons but didn't want them filled.
Manager: Are you going to warn them not to take it if they're allergic to latex?
Me: It's a pretty rare condition, but I could if that's what you want.
Manager: So, why are you doing this, again?
Me: I didn't want to let the helium go to waste and just want to do something nice for the community...
Manager: You have to admit, that's sorta odd... I mean, pretty nice, but... odd.
Me: Yeah, I didn't realize doing something like this would be such a challenge.So finally, the manager gave me permission, and I thought that was the end of the resistance I would face. But no. As I started handing out the balloons, I noticed that most of the people I encountered hesitated. I made sure to ask the parents and not just the kids directly. I also made sure to point out that there were "no strings attached." Still only about half of the people actually accepted the gift. There was a woman sitting on the bench outside seeing all this. At some point I asked her what she thought of all this. And she said that a lot of people didn't seem to believe me when I offered them a "free" balloon. It reminded me of the time when I gave away the free drink coupons at the airport.
I have to admit, it was a bit discouraging getting rejected at times. I kept wondering if they were thinking I was some sort of predator or something. After a while, it was starting to get to me... but I guess the straw that broke the camel's back was when I offered one to a family, and the kid seemed really excited, but the father said "no," and then the kid started to cry. Well, that was that. The last thing I wanted to do was make people unhappy, so I took the filled balloons I had left and walked inside the Walmart and gave them to the employee at the exit who makes sure no one shoplifts and asked her to hand the rest of them out to the people leaving the store. I figured they would trust her more. I still had quite a bit of helium left, but I was done.
It was definitely a learning experience. I also wondered if this is how some people may view the free gift of salvation from sins. I'm sure that some people think that either they're too bad to receive the gift or that they would have to somehow merit salvation... that there is no way that something so great can be completely free... that there must be some "strings attached." And I think more than anything else, Christians have added to this misconception by being so judgemental toward people... that somehow they have to be a little better than other people or be more penitent than they are.
So after I got home, I just decided to fill the rest of the balloons and just let them go in my living room. Why not... it makes for a nice photo at least...
So am I a total weirdo for wanting to do all this? Is wanting to do something without expecting any return so totally out of the norm for this society that it's folly to even try? I guess it's also pretty ironic considering how cynical I can get that I would be so surprised at the cynicism of society. When I told this story at lunch today, someone called me Charlie Brown. I took it as a compliment.
Do you ever have trouble accepting gifts or favors from people wholeheartedly?
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Comments (26)
I won't lie that in today's society it may be hard to accept something without there being a catch
You're not a total weirdo. I often think it would be nice just to walk into a hospital or a nursing or veteran's home, and just tell the receptionist, "Hey. Who can I help/make happy today?" It also never occurred to me that spontaneous good will would be taken so suspiciously, or not taken at all.
And another random thing that kinda got me while I was reading was his question about Easter advertisment. I understand the whole 'political correctness' plague, but I think, "What kid doesn't celebrate Easter?" And then I remembered once I was trick-or-treating, and a guy answered the door with, "I don't celebrate Halloween." Poor guy, he probably had to say that all night long, and disappoint a lot of eager little kids. Now that I think about it, he was probably a somewhat radical Christian... ;P
Anyways, to end my ramble with an actual answer to your question: yes, I actually do have trouble accepting help, just as much as I have trouble asking for help. It's almost a reflex -- "Oh, no thanks" even if I do need the help they seek to give. I realize that I need to (or at least would like to) change, but it's not an easy habit to break.
Thanks for sharing your story!
Yes, I do.
And I am wholeheartedly grateful for this entry.
hey, you could have just left the helium at the church for if they were going to have another function like that. :P
but i guess you wouldn't have learned this cool lesson if you left the helium at the church.
I figure accepting the gift with grace and happiness is the best reward I could give the giver.
That is sooo amazing, but reveals many things about our society.We did something like that many years ago as part of a Lenten program and folks had some interesting experiences. It is kinda discouraging, isn't it?
We live in a society where in order to get something free you have to give something back. or lose something. Some people have a hard time accepting something good.
God is awesome though.
First off, great story!! My kids would have loved those balloons, lol. I think it is hard to accept someone, a complete stranger, doing something kind, with no strings attached. We live in such a selfish world that it's easy to understand, sad though.
it's sad the direction our world is going, but i trust is as a part of God's plan~ thank you so much for the entry! i liked it very very much. :) and i agree! it's so hard to give things away. i sometimes find trouble trying to give things away to even FRIENDS! haha anyways, thank you again for the entry. i liked it very much. :)
Yeah, I guess if I don't know someone too well I suspect them of having an ulterior motive.. but God would never be like that. =)
thank you for this post =)
jeepers charlie brown people sure are odd, i got much of the same when my 6th grade sunday school class was giving free car washes but we did ask if we could pray for them about something maybe they thought that was a price? We should never give up on doing good though.
My parents always tell me that nothing is free in this world, and there are always strings attached to them. Hence, everytime a telemarketer calls and says
"Congratulations, you have won......"
I just slam it down. Not only are they annoying... I find them too good to be true. There has to be unseen strings attached. Otherwise how do these people earn money?
Wonderful story and illustration. It was a good read. I don't think you're a wierdo. Once we realize how much Christ gave for us, it's only a natural reaction to want to give to others. Your wanting to use all of the helium was an indicator that you have learned to take nothing for granted and to be a good steward. God bless you much!
At times I do have trouble accepting things or favors especially when I need them but I realize that this is just pride. Sometimes I may resist help because I fell unworthy or that I should be able to do some things on my own but I realize that god uses whoever whenever however he see's fit to bless us.
All, thanks for the kind words. This actually happened a couple years back, so I'm recovered from the experience... hehe. We just know now not to rent such a large helium tank for our church activities.
@droftreeology@xanga - actually, the tank was rented from a party supply store. It was due back the next day. They didn't give refunds for any leftover helium in the tank.
Awh, that was a compliment to be called Charlie Brown.
You weren't a weirdo for wanting to give away free balloons! It was a really nice thing for you to do. People are really suspicious. It's too bad that's such a strong instinct in today's society. In some circumstances it's a survival instinct, but I think in this story it was definitely to their detriment! Pretty sad.
If it was free candy or something, that might be one thing. But how much harm can a balloon cause?
I can have trouble accepting some things wholeheartedly. It depends on who they are from. If it's from somebody close to me, it's no problem, but if it's from an acquaintance I perceive as potentially manipulative, I have problems with it. And sometimes when I need something most, whoever it's from, I have trouble recieving it at first, but they usually convince me. ;)
I think what you did was awesome! It's just sad that people can't trust each other now ...
they were prolly scared.
there was this clown on Venice Beach who was giving my cousins balloons. after that, he was asking for donations?wth?he'd prolly make mor emoney in an hour working rather than dressing up and walking around Venice beach asking for donations.
@mrpine - oh, well in that case i guess that you just earned a cool experience! haha :D
Hey wierdo Charlie!
I have found that people seem uncomfortable when I ahve ever been givng away anythign for free. They actually PREFER and INSIST on giving a donation. Why do you think that is--maybe they don't want to feel obligated to anyone???
Interesting...
This makes me think...recently I prayed about something and did what I felt God told me to do. I immediatly panicked and in a weak spirit moment asked God for a sign that it was really him I heard. I got my sign and it was obvious! But the funny thing is, I never received a response from what God told me to do. Sometimes that's just it. We do what we feel in our heart we should do and we find ourselves wondering why we didn't get the response we expected...but in all actuality by doing what we knew in our heart we should do...we may have touched ONE person or changed ONE mind (someone perhaps who could only see the mean in the world)....but more than anything...God may have laid it on our heart to do...not for someone else...but for ourselves. To get a sense of selflessness that brings contentment and happiness in life. At the end of the day, how many people can say their living room has a baloon rainbow...a promise from God?
try: take some friendly girls (and some other guys) with you to hand them out. and have a banner like 'Summer Appreciation Day.' unfortunately as a guy by himself, instead of being in a group, u look suspect. girls r less intimidating. and with no theme (announcing to people from afar why you're doing what you're doing), u won't attract as many people either. a growing crowd draws more crowds.
and if u want to give away balloons in nursing homes, bring girl(s) with you and you can all chip in explanations as to why you're doing what you're doing. it'll make it seem more like a high school (donation) event. girls are more approachable. crowds with clearly-stated banners/signs r more approachable. having an appreciation day theme, or some theme, makes people justify the reasons they're taking something for free. don't forget music. festive (clown, barney songs, kids) music makes the 'donation' event more like a typical event. it's not that people don't believe in free stuff. it's just they're only familiar with free giving as it's seen on tv, like in 'Oprah's Big Give.' It's clearly stated that it's a 'Give.' People r also only familiar with giving as they see giving in their communities, which is usually in parks with a festive atmosphere, lots of people, clear signs of what things r free.
try this, and tell me you don't get more reception. but i guess u might not have enough balloons for a large crowd should there b one, and it was too fast notice to get some girls and guys to help u.
if u just wanted to give balloons away at nursing homes, blow the balloons up first. divide the balloons between each girl/guy accompanying u. if u want to bring the balloons in by urself, carry as many blown-up balloons as u can. leave the rest of the blown-up balloons just outside. go in, explain ur story. if they accept the batch u have, say u have more outside. i think u'll have more success w/ friendly-looking, nonsexy-looking girls w/ u. the guy didn't take the helium cuz he didn't trust that it wasn't explosive. girls make the whole story less dangerous-looking
@bnowak1@xanga - in that case, take the donation and give it to people who need it, like what angeline and brad did w/ their baby pics. i thought that was smart of them, whereas i was sad nicole kidman didn't do the same thing. 5 mill could feed a lot of hungry kids in africa. i wish nicole had taken the money and given it to charity.
Reminds me when I was in Rome at the Trevi fountain (bragging (: ) at mid-night, and this guy would give away a dozen roses to the male who had a woman in tow for "free." The man usually would take them, give them to the happy girl, get the kiss, and later the rose giver would come back for a "tip!" Most of the time the lover could not take away the flowers and would pay up. Lo and two of our freinds sat there untill 2:20 eating gelato, and watching these poor couples.
Great story! Thanks for sharing.
wow... i should try something like that. i mean i know it's difficult cuz i've encountered something similar but never to that effect.
we have something in art appreciation class called project SPONJ. it's short for spontaneous acts of joy. we're supposed to make things like origami and give them to people without reason and see their reaction. so far, no one in class has done it to complete strangers... but even with people we know, they don't react with joy.
thanks for sharing this. i will recommend that we try it in class. =D not really the balloons... but with the total strangers... i hope it goes better than this.
but i think you're right... people have trouble accepting something so pure and simple and has no strings attached... i don't know how to change this... but i know it's worth a try. God bless.