You can pretty much start the countdown … whenever something good takes off, here come the critics!

Every.

Time.

Am I wrong? Now I understand the feeling of being tired of seeing something done ad nauseam. I feel that way pretty much about reality TV. But honestly, it’s your choice whether to watch or not. I choose not to spend my time watching television, period. There isn’t that much on television that interests me, I have other priorities that are more important to me…. and we don’t even watch television enough to justify the cable expense at this point. Just our personal choice as a family!

So with these water challenges going around social media, it was pretty predictable at some point that people would grow tired of them … and that all the criticism possible would begin.

Here are some of the issues I’ve seen that people have had with the challenges:

• It wastes water. (Really? I used water from my tap, which I pay for, so what is wrong about me using water that I paid for … for something that is intended to raise money for charity?? I’m not seeing that one at all.)
• President George W. Bush’s challenge made people upset about the whole waterboarding controversy. Some of you are certain not to like my answer on this one, but can we agree to just disagree in advance? With the beheadings all over the internet by terrorists … I could really care less if a known terrorist is waterboarded if it meant lives may be saved from intelligence gained. Beheading versus waterboarding … no comparison. That’s just my personal opinion … enough said.
• The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is actually supporting abortion. Now this one would be a “legitimate” concern for me as I believe strongly in the pro-life position. I understand the concerns about money going to support abortion … I don’t really want my money being used for that.

But here’s what has been said by Brian Fisher of Online for Life as a way around this, for those who may wish to participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge who are pro-life:

Our friends at American Life League contacted The ALS Association to inquire if they are currently engaged in embryonic stem cell research. They replied,

The ALS Association primarily funds adult stem cell research. Currently, The Association is funding one study using embryonic stem cells (ESC), and the stem cell line was established many years ago under ethical guidelines set by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS); this research is funded by one specific donor who is committed to this area of research. In fact, donors may stipulate that their funds not be invested in this study or any stem cell project. Under very strict guidelines, The Association may fund embryonic stem cell research in the future.

Make no mistake; embryonic stem cell research is simply abortion by another name.

In the process of extracting cells from an embryo’s body for medical research purposes, the embryo is killed. That means our increasingly utilitarian society allows the killing of helpless, voiceless members of the human race in order to perform medical research that will supposedly cure its more developed members.

So the first thing you can do is specify when you send money to The ALS Association that your funds not be used for this purpose. Secondly, Mr. Fisher recommends:

Before you douse yourself in cold water, consider contacting the ALS Association urging them to discontinue their embryonic stem cell research program and their support of the practice in general.

If you are interested in the other side of this debate, you can read an article written by Pastor Perry Noble in my own state that makes a lot of sense: Eating Cookies or Killing Babies? Do I have to choose?

It’s also interesting some of the stereotypes or labels that have now been assigned to those who participate. Maybe for some it isn’t necessarily intentional, but just like with everything else you read on the internet, it’s important to recognize that not everyone falls into those categories being defined:

• Narcissist
• A show-off
• A Milennial

[Source: Tom Watson; Hey Cynics, Hold that Cold Water: Why the Ice Bucket Challenge worked on Forbes.com]

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge versus The Cold Water Challenge

Before the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge started, I was “called out” to do the Cold Water Challenge, in which participants select a charity they want to donate to, and those who are challenged to follow suit are supposed to donate more money to that charity if they choose not to take the challenge or they can donate $10 to the charity of their choice if they do take the challenge. So your options are:

1. Take the challenge. Have cold water dumped on you or jump into cold water and donate $10 to the charity of your choice; or
2. Donate $100 to the charity of the person who challenged you if you choose not to participate with the cold water.

I decided to participate, even though, trust me, this is not my idea of fun necessarily. And I do not fit into any of the stereotypes listed above.

I am an introvert. I used to think I was an extrovert, but that was before I “discovered my identity”! So I don’t look for opportunities to get in front of a video camera or in front of a group of people. I prefer one-on-one or small group settings.

Why?

So in light of all of this, here’s why I personally decided to participate:

• I enjoy supporting charity and had been meaning to give to some specific ones recently but just hadn’t done it yet. This was as a good a time as any, and in the meantime, maybe it would encourage someone else to give. (In the article linked above by Tom Watson, he mentions how summer can be a “dry fundraising season” for charity.)
• I was “called out” by one of the students at my church. I had just recently started serving in the student ministry, so really just didn’t want to “let her down.” It really is as simple as that.
• I believe in facing fear or what is normally not necessarily a part of my “comfort zone,” as I mentioned above being “in front of” people or on video isn’t comfortable for me. I think we grow personally, and sometimes are blessed beyond measure, when we are willing to step out of our normal comfort zone. Sometimes our professional endeavors (this is happening right now for me!) or needs around us require things of us that aren’t necessarily comfortable.

I get that we all are different, and in fact, I will be one of the first to appreciate and celebrate differences. Not everyone wants to participate, and that’s fine! Some of the people I tagged to do the challenge after me chose not to do it, and I respected that. Now for those who I knew could handle it, this did not go without a little harassment, but it was all in fun.

Most of the fun, though, was for my kids. They totally enjoyed dumping cold water on Mommy:

[Screenshot image from video only]

What about you … have you participated in any of these challenges or seen one that was particularly entertaining?