Blockbuster Video and a Metaphorical Reflection on Grace

I think it's been about a month since Blockbuster announced it's new policy towards returning movies and late fees. Their ad campaign featured a mob of angry consumers marching through a city chanting, "No more late fees! No more late fees!" They arrive in front of a Blockbuster store where I think I remember there are employees hanging a banner (announcing the new campaign?), or something, and the manager turns to the mob and says, "Okay." At this point the mob is transformed into a crowd that begins to celebrate wildly.

As I watched this I was suspicious. I almost always have a late fee waiting to be paid when I reach the counter: balance due - $3.99 (or worse still, $7.98). "Can I get that next time?" I weakly croak. "I'm sorry, sir, this is that next time," comes the reply. So that same night I drove down the block and cornered an employee and made him give me the details. I could tell this guy was really enjoying giving me this good news. I kept waiting for the catch. But no matter how many different ways I framed a "late-fee" scenario the verdict always came back in my favor. I won't go into all the logistics of this new system, you can go and get the good news for yourself. And I am not naive enough to believe that this isn't in the economic best interest of Blockbuster to do this. They are probably trying to wipe out Netflix. That is not my point. So what is?

I have noticed a change in my local Blockbuster. It began with the employee eagerly informing me of the details of this essentially free pass. It continued when I noticed employees smiling at me and actually engaging me in conversation. There are a few employees that I have tried to interact with over the last couple of years and I have been unable to crack them in one way or another. I'm not trying to get to them with some ulterior motive. I just like to interact with people. Now, they were actually initiating conversation with me.

I have seen customers take out their frustrations on hapless employees who have no power over policy. I did not have a hard time imagining the many times upper middle-class people have argued, cajoled or otherwise abused these minimum-wage folks over $3.99. I am certain (because I know myself and have done the same thing) that these are likely the same people who are angered when the movie they want is checked out (God forbid it's late). I can imagine the relief these employees must feel being able to say, with a smile, "You know what? It's no big deal. We got this one."

Curiously, beyond the friendliness I am finding that I am changed, too. I am finding that I want to get the movie back on time. I want to respond to the generosity that is being extended towards me with faithfulness. Grace engendering obedience and more, relationship...

I am almost done reading Malcolm Gladwell's new book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking. In chapter four, he talks about creating structures that release spontaneity and uses the example of improvisational comedy as an illustration of a structure that releases creative life and freedom and as a result, laughter. He could be describing grace. What he basically says is that in improvisational comedy/theater the key ingredient to making the thing work is going with the flow. In other words the minute a person responds negatively on stage or tries to shut something down, the routine stumbles. He states:

One of the most important of the rules that make improv possible, for example, is the idea of agreement, the notion that a very simple way to create a story - or humor - is to have characters accept everything that happens to them...Humor arises entirely out of how steadfastly the participants adhere to the rule that no suggestion can be denied. If you can create the right framework, all of a sudden , engaging in the kind of fluid, effortless, spur-of-the-moment dialogue that makes for good improv theater becomes a lot easier.

Acceptance engendering creative life and freedom...

Those who know me know I am not saying grace and acceptance is the same thing as signing off on destructive behaviors towards one's self or others. We are called to follow Jesus into the dynamic tension that is the reality of the incarnation: Jesus came from the Father full of grace and truth. I have done my share of truth-telling, hopefully from place of grace with a posture of humility.

But could it be that God is at least as equally generous with our lives and our short-comings as Blockbuster is with our tardiness? Could it be that the reservoirs of God's love is at least as deep, if not deeper, than the pockets of Wayne Huizenga? Could it possibly be the case that God has structured reality with the degree of freedom that he has so that he might constantly take the absurdities of our routine and transform even them into laughter by accepting us and saying, "Yes." How might we begin to respond to God and others when faith freedom became the dominant currency of our lives instead of fear?

Some quotes to ponder.

"But all the wickedness in the world which man may do or think is no more to the mercy of God than a live coal dropped in the sea." William Langland

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Paul, in his letter to the church at Ephesus

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" - Paul, in his letter to the church at Rome

"But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God." - Paul, in his second letter to the church at Corinth

Comments

[dh]

I really enjoyed this article. I struggle everyday to show patience to people. This really convicted me of how I respond when I drive on the road or in a restaurant. I feel God is trying transform me and getting me to "swallow my pride" and live in the Grace Christ has given us to live on a moment by moment basis.
You really know how to put things in perspective. :)

[jbradley]

Tim
Our family basically can't rent movies in Eden Prairie anymore. We have tried to dodge so many late fees by just renting from a new place. Well we are out of places and can no longer rent without "taking care of our penalties." One line that normally works is "oh that is my brother's late movie again...I think he may be coming in tonight. Wlll you nail him instead of me? ok.....it's worked once and failed quite a few times. Blockbuster did save me some cash.
Especially this month when I rented all 3 seasons of 24 for only 15 bucks. Pretty sweet deal in my book.

[Tim Keel]

Hey John, I hate to say it but this may be one of those instances where judgment is more appropriate! :) If Eden Prairie is off-limits, it sounds like it may be time to move! We've got a place in KC for a incorrigible late-fee-er. Grins, bro.

[deo]

Good thoughts, however Blockbuster has "saved" some friends of mine late fees, however they did end up buying a movie they just wanted to rent. be certain to return them in a week or the "late-fee" will show up on a credit card or bank statement.

[Tim Keel]

Deo - right...that is part of the deal. However it seems reasonable to assume (from the p.o.v. of Blockbuster) that if you've kept a video seven days past its original due date, then you might want to just keep it.

Alas, this is the problem with metaphors. We end up quibbling over the referer (in this instance, Blockbuster) instead of the referent (in this instance God) to whom the referer points.

[Tim Keel]

Not that we should instead be quibbling over the referant, either.

[deo]

don't know why that posted twice... accident, but I agree on both counts

[bob]

very cool how your blockbuster experience of moving from a rule/procedure based interaction to a relational/grace based interaction parallels the same kind of struggles in following christ. i love how blockbuster's change helped you to want to return things in a timely fashion. the *morality* follows the relationship. nice picture. thanks for this story!

[Rick Bennett]

I don't know what to do when a company on my "evil" list does something great like this.

What if Walmart starts cleaning up its act? This does not compute. Anyway, since Netflix we don't go to Blockbuster anyway. Maybe we can change our position, since I keep movies a day or few hours longer than I should usually.

On another subject, have you seen the posting of a review of Brian's book by Dr. Al Mohler of Southern Seminary? I have a link to it on my blog, which is URLed with my comments. You may enjoy the read.

Rick

[Daniel]

John et al.,

One secret. If you rent from blockbuster still oweing late-fees for rentals prior to this new arrangement and pay those late fees, they will give you a coupon for a free rental! This is how it is set up in Independence where I rent.

[Daniel]

One more thing -- I believe (correct me if I am wrong) that you have a one week grace period after the initial two day rental is up, thus giving you a total of nine days of viewing pleasure!

[Rick Bennett]

Did you hear?

They are getting sued for this promotion since many of their independently owned and operated stores are not taking part in the promotion.

New Jersey is suing. Florida is thinking of suing.

[Tim Keel]

I saw that a couple of days ago in the business section of the Kansas City Star, Rick. Curious tension here. It will be interesting to see where this will go.