Tuesday, 29 July 2008

• 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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