The Anti-Schadenfreuder

This post serves as fair warning that I am about to reveal my wussy-sissy ways. That's right, ol' Artie is not afraid to admit that Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is one of his favorite shows. True, I usually watch no more than the reveal; after all, it doesn't take an hour to figure out that the beneficiary cares for unwanted AIDS babies and that building a house in a week is difficult. But those fifteen minutes I do watch can stir a week’s worth of emotion.

It's fulfilling to see good things happen to good people, and that all of life’s riches are not reserved for Lindsay Lohan and D-list celebrities. For those not familiar, EMHE producers find America’s unsung heroes—the soldier who lost his legs in battle, the foster mother to hundreds of children, the little girl with cancer who started a foundation to help others—and sends them away on a vacation while a team of builders, designers and community volunteers spend a frenzied week constructing a dream house.

In almost every instance, the deserving person/people have made sacrifices in their own lives so that others may benefit. For me, the stories of selflessness are engaging enough—the homes, I imagine, are rewards but not nearly as rewarding as the act of helping others.

I vividly remember my wedding rehearsal dinner winding down and the few stragglers remaining standing around a kitchen island talking about nothing too important. I’m not sure what provoked this remark, but the Amazing Blonde One expressed and confessed that she had one true love, and she bellowed it in a voice that let everyone within a five-mile radius aware of her feelings.

“I love Downs Syndrome!” she giddily shouted. “Downs is the best,” she later sighed obviously coming down from her euphoric state.

Now, I kid. I do know what brought forth this proclamation. It was her commitment to care for kids with special needs (including her husband)--along with her downing two quarts of cheap white wine. But perhaps her obvious inebriation, slurred sentences, and frequent groping of the groom-to-be lessened the impact of what is otherwise a very important message.

We get what we give. Big rewards await those willing to make even a small gesture of kindness. And we are in need of the opportunities to do something great.

A former boss of mine would repeatedly tell the story of the rabbit. In short form, it is a story in which a young man in search of God who travels into the dessert to speak with a monk who has lived a reverential life in solitude in the dessert.

Upon meeting the monk, the man asks how he is able to feel so close to God. Seemingly ignoring the question, the monk talks about a beautiful September day where he and his dog lay outside basking in the sun. His dogs keen senses spot a rabbit nearby, and after seeing the rabbit, the dogs takes-off after the furry creature, chasing him and barking all along. Other dogs, hearing the commotion join in the hunt and now several dogs are chasing the rabbit. As the chase continues and the terrain gets more difficult the other dogs drop-off, and eventually all that is left is the monk’s dog and the rabbit still running.

After sharing the story, the Monk leans back and smiles telling the young man that he has answered the question.

Perplexed the young man counters, “I don’t understand. What does your dog’s chase have to do with your closeness to God.”

Expecting that very answer the monk assuredly smiles, “ah, but you ask the wrong question. What you should have asked was why did my dog continue the chase while the other dogs gave up. The answer to that question, my boy, is that my dog saw the rabbit while the others were merely following the noise.

“Once you see the rabbit, you will never give up the chase, no matter how difficult the terrain gets. If you see the rabbit, you will never give up.”

I suppose that helps explains my love affair with Extreme Makeover: Home Edition; the Amazing Blonde One’s affection for kids with Down’s Syndrome; and countless blogs written by miserable people who are desperate to change jobs, change homes, and change their lives. It seems like those folks still haven’t found their rabbit.

Happy hunting.