Update: Since writing these posts the media has reported that Ted Williams has been drinking and had a public altercation with a family member. He has appeared on the Dr. Phil show and is heading to rehab. A wise choice for anyone struggling with lifelong addictions (the rehab part at least). The transition off the streets is a difficult one normally, I can’t imagine what it would be like under national scrutiny. I hope America and, especially corporate America, continues to stand by Mr. Williams as he tries to put his life back on track. God bless you Ted, and may you find peace and a renewed life! -Brian C.
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This is the second part of a guest post by Brian C (see part one). Brian lives and works as an English Teacher in Amman, Jordan. He blogs from there regularly, recording his thoughts on language, culture, and life in general at Pilgrim without a Shrine.
So why does everyone want to hire Ted Williams?
As soon as Ted Williams story was beginning to be told, people started looking into his past. He’s been addicted to alcohol and drugs. He has served time for criminal activity. He walked out on a wife and several kids. Ted is not perfect – he’s just an ordinary broken person like most of the rest of us, except his dirty laundry his hanging out for all to see.
Personally, I’m all for 2nd chances. I’m even for 3rd, 4th, and 5th chances. But that’s me, and not corporate America. In my work with people trying to get off the streets, I found that employers saw employing the homeless as a risk. This was especially true if there was even a hint of addiction or criminal records in their past, as in the case of Ted Williams.
Nonetheless, Mr. Williams has reportedly received 100s of job offers in this past week. He’s started working for Kraft Foods. He might work for the Cleveland Cavaliers. It boggles the mind. His job interview was a YouTube clip. People heard the smooth voice, saw the rough exterior and were intrigued by the juxtaposition. They heard the hard-luck story and that was all they needed to know. I used to work in HR too. This was not the process we used to determine employee eligibility.
Maybe corporate America is more big-hearted than I take them to be. I hope this is the case. But I’m not convinced.
I knew dozens of homeless men and women who may have been more employable that Ted Williams, but they could barely get a job at McDonald’s or in a warehouse let alone with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Unfortunately none of them had a silky smooth radio voice. And none of them were famous.
Fame is a funny beast in America. When it comes to famous people we overlook a lot of socially unacceptable and even illegal behavior don’t we? I think America’s fascination with fame was Ted Williams ticket-to-ride, even more than his voice. His fame is what opened doors for him. Granted he’s nouveau-famous, but a household name nonetheless. And in corporate America being famous sells. I’m not sure if I should say this, but from my jaded perspective I wonder how many of these companies were trying help a homeless man get back on his feet or helping out because overnight this had become the human interest story of the year. Surely whatever company hires him first comes out smelling like roses. And if it doesn’t work out – oh well, at least they tried to help the poor guy.
I wonder if this is a case of people doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. If Ted Williams had walked into a Kraft Foods plant a week and a half ago to fill out an application (with no ID, no address, a criminal record, and an old drug habit)would they have even offered him job on the production line let alone doing voice-overs for national advertising spots?
It seems, from a purely human perspective, that perhaps a few million YouTube hits can open doors previously shut tight.
In the end does it matter? It seems like this man is going to get a 2nd chance and that’s a good thing. But what about all the other people out there who could use a 2nd chance – what will it take for corporate America to take an “acceptable risk” on them?
The bigger risk . . .
Actually the biggest risk taker in this story isn’t corporate America. It was the Columbus Dispatch reporter who made the short video clip of Mr. Williams in the first place. His risk? Actually getting involved in the life of a homeless person. Actually caring enough to do something. And not really anything that involved or heroic. He gave a homeless guy a couple of bucks and took his video and posted it online. He didn’t even do it right away – he waited 5 or 6 weeks and posted it on a “slow news Monday” as he stated in a Q&A session on the matter.
But as it turns out Doral Chenoweth is a Christian who regularly interacts with the homeless and the less fortunate and tries to find ways to be of assistance. He tries to be salt and light in his community. Not in some heavy-handed preachy sort of way. But in natural ways that make sense in the context of his job as a reporter.
But is there something more to this story?
Misgivings about corporate motivations aside – this is truly an inspiring story! It has the makings of a true rags-to-riches tale, which is one of the things that makes it so compelling. It offers a glimmer of hope. If it could happen for him, maybe it could happen for any of us.
But beyond the “dollar-and-a-dream” mentality there is a deeper message of hope and redemption.
Throughout all of his interviews Ted Williams gives credit to God. Whenever anyone asks him if he’ll be able to weather the storms that instant fame and success might bring, he speaks of a spiritual renewal that has been happening in his life of late. He said that he never used to think twice about God or thank him for anything, but this past year he started doing that. His words always seem genuine and humble. There was really no reason for him to try to convince Matt Lauer or Meredith Vieira of his religious beliefs.
It was actually something quite remarkable to hear this imperfect broken man sitting in one of the halls of power in our media hungry country and give credit to God. Maybe all of this was happening for a higher reason. Maybe it wasn’t all just about viral video and instant-fame and corporate America trying to look compassionate. Maybe someone else was calling the shots on this story and everybody else has just been playing very small roles. Maybe we were witnessing how God sometimes chooses to break into a person’s life and turn it completely around. Not because of the person’s worthiness or lack thereof. Not because of the compassion of those trying to help out. Maybe just for God’s glory.
This man’s words have been salt and light to millions of people around the world. God has chosen the weak things of this world . . .
What about us?
Too often it is too easy to judge a book by its cover when it comes to the homeless. What about the man or woman holding that cardboard sign at the end of the exit ramp on your way to work? What’s their story? What unique gift or ability do they have? Do we care? If there was a viral video about them would it make it easier for us to reach out to them, to take a risk and do something for them? Does God want us to wait for another slow news Monday to make a difference in someone’s life?
In Conclusion
I wish Ted Williams all the best and hope that by the grace of God he makes it off the streets, addiction free, and with new hope for the future. His is a story that reveals the imperfection of the human condition – both in the one needing help and those giving it – and God’s ability to transcend it all.
David W. Swanson 
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