There’s a reason Donald Trump is a millionaire today. Yeah, he went bankrupt. But lots of people declare bankruptcy everyday and don’t recover from it. Why Donald? It’s because while he lost the money, the skills he used to make the money were still there.
Yesterday America watched the “fall from grace” of its newest superhero—Ted Williams. Williams told Dr. Phil recently that he had been drinking heavily since he was “discovered” on the roadside by a pocket cam video, which went viral on the web. Within 24 hours Ted had news crews stalking him and offers from organizations across the country who wanted his “golden voice” for their own.
Yet while America cheered, I was worried about Ted. I was worried how someone whom society ignored and even cast their eyes down upon would deal with “sudden fame” and the riches that often accompany such fame. Ted admitted that substances were a part of his initial fall from grace. The issues that led him to cope with substances don’t just disappear.
While many claimed charitable greatness surrounding this talented man, perhaps it will be Dr. Phil who is credited with effectively helping him off the streets. In rehab, Ted will be offered and may acquire the skills necessary to lead a healthy life. No amount of money over time can deal with stress, pressure, insecurity, depression, etc. Only skills can help us do that.
A Deeper Poverty
When we think that money alone will cure poverty we have bought into a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of poverty, finances are the least important of which. Social, emotional, intellectual and physical poverty are all aspects of a human being, which can become “poor.” Money can help some, but without enriching a person in the other domains, they’ll end up right back where they came from.
For myself, I grew up poor. My mother in her wisdom knew the importance for me to be around people who were “better off” than me. So she sacrificed to send me to a private, Catholic school. She wanted me to be around people who had more social graces, a place that would stretch me to grow intellectually and academically and one that would feed me spiritually. The school did just that. It was the norm for everyone at the school to go to college, so I went. I did poorly my first year but took a year off and at the encouragement of friends went back.
Today I’m happily married and successful and faith filled because my mom had an intuitive understanding of our poverty and her own. She knew what she couldn’t give me and made sure that I had access to it.
Perhaps Dr. Phil will be that for Ted. Perhaps he’ll be the one who gives Ted the real “leg up” from the streets that he’s been hoping for. We shall see…
About Roy Petitfils
Interesting thoughts Roy. It’s difficult for people to just change overnight even though their circumstances do. Makes me think about ongoing formation for individuals in the religious context. We don’t just have a conversion and then we’re good for the rest of our lives. We have to continually work at converting over and over again. We have to have continuing formation to push us to go further with Christ as our lives progress and circumstances change.
Totally agree Marc. I did a radio interview about this yesterday and the host Wendy Weiss and I discussed the concept of incremental change. Change, metanoia, conversion for most people happen gradually over time, and are not the one time “st. paul” type of events. And when it does happen incrementally, we’re more likely to trust it, as will others. Thanks for sharing brother!