Life Lessons: Rose Parade Craziness Vs. Jesus’ Chill-out-ness

When I was in college, my fraternity held our biggest fundraiser at the Rose Parade every year. We’d camp out at a house or church for a few days taking turns reserving a large spot along the parade route. On New Year’s Eve, we’d deliver about 100 chairs to the location & set up camp for the night.

The next morning after setting the chairs in rows, we’d sell the seats to passers-by. Each row had a different price. Realistically, the price was whatever we could get for them. I was always amazed people came loaded with cash to burn for a good seat. It was such a rush; so many people, tons of money changing hands. Everybody was happy. Before leaving, people would give their business cards to me asking if they could reserve seats for the following year. The answer? YES!

One year with all the flurry of excitement in full swing an angry man got in my face and yelled about how unfair and unconstitutional it was that we would take public property and make money off of it. Without missing a beat, I yelled back at him, “Sit down!” Not realizing what I had said, the angry protester went on with his argument. To which I replied with an even louder, “Sit down!” Finally realizing he had just been given a free seat, he quietly took his place and I went about my business.

The next line out of my mouth was to the crowd huddling with eager eyes behind our little theater. “Okay, who wants to purchase the few remaining seats to help us raise money for a Mexico orphanage?” While the Mexico orphanage part was true, it was meant as a sword of guilt to pierce the man’s self-righteous and indignant heart. We sold the rest of the seats, made a financial killing, helped some orphans and shamed a stingy man.

This is how I could use this story: