I have to wonder about the celebrity we’ve made of Ted Williams, the ‘Golden-Voiced’ homeless man! Since being ‘discovered’ in Ohio in January his video on You Tube has been viewed almost 8 million times and media from around the world have written about him. He’s also been offered jobs and advertising spots and interviews.Personally, I’m not surprised at Ted and his giftedness - I’ve met many talented and educated and intelligent people who have been addicted and homeless - the Master Chef, the Missionary, the Doctor, the MBA banker, the Artist, the Mason. It’s not surprising to see great gifts among the homeless.
What’s surprising to me is our desire to make him a story. Has this effort been helpful to him? In the days since becoming nationally known his addiction has resurfaced landing him in a ‘celebrity’ rehab in California! And the hope is that he will find a way to find freedom from the life-depleting compulsions in his life. We wish him well and pray that he will be able to come out of the destruction that has been his life.
But can we also allow this to remind that addiction easily embeds in a life and recovery from such is often complex and long-term? Can we also hesitate a little bit the next time we’re compelled to view a homeless guy through our lens without considering history or the intricacy of his situation? For Ted’s sake, we can do no less.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rPFvLUWkzs
Steve Brubaker • Chief Vision Officer
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