On Saturday, May 14, 2016, I participated in a Blacklight Slide event. It was advertised for $20. So I said, "Sweet!That sounds like fun! What a great price! Let me register for it before the price increases." I go to the website to sign up. They tacked on an additional $5 for their service fee. OK...that's still a good price. It will be worth it for the 'fun-ness' of it.
And then as the date gets closer, I receive the email that it will cost $10 for parking at the venue. OK, that's understandable. And with further emails, I find out you can only go to down the slide WITH an inner tube! You can bring your own or buy one there for $10 plus if you do not pick up your packet the day before the event, it costs an additional $5!!!! It costs more in gas to drive to the pick-up location than paying the additional $5.
The point is, this "fun" event that started out as a "bargain" at $25, doubled in expenditure the day of the event. As I was reading the reviews of this event, it came to my attention that most of the time is spent in line, NOT having fun going down the slide! Blackslide Light response to this was, "Music will be playing the entire time so use it to dance while waiting in line." Hmmm? Really?!
I stood in line with hundreds of people each holding their inner tubes, most of them bought through Blacklight Slide at $10 each. And the thought came to me. We Americans spend our money on that which has little value other. In other words, our values are really out of priority, messed up. We are a selfish, entitlement seeking community. To make us feel better, Blacklight Slide announced a few times while we were waiting in line that more than $600,000 were donated to a children's cancer research. People cheered. I was dismayed.
The epiphany came to me that I could have used that $50 for a far worthier cause, something that I actually believed in instead of supporting cancer research that promote toxic medicines and methods that are in complete conflict with my personal beliefs of health and well being.
The scripture found in Luke 12:33 came to mind: "Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth neither moth corrupteth."
A leader is wise and prudent with the money he or she has stewardship over. A leader uses it to bless the lives of others.
Thank you, Blacklight Slide, for giving me this epiphany!
