One of my favorite new TV shows kind of snuck up on me and made me like it. It’s the story of a man who has a dream. His dream is fleshed out in his 95-point plan to make his town of 456 residents… D’lo, Mississippi… the greatest town in America.
Small Town, Big Mayor features Mayor John Henry Berry’s pursuit of bringing his hometown back from near-extinction… and I don’t want to miss an episode. My attraction to the show goes beyond the fact that it is pure… and clean… and humorous. It’s the hero… the champion… the tip of the spear this guy has chosen to be for his town.
I love that he saw a need and decided something had to be done to fix what was wrong. I love that he came up with a plan… probably more than what anyone else had done. I love that he isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty to set the example of what it’s going to take to make the dream become reality. I love that he loves that town and those people enough to put up with some of their goofiness (and their ridiculous ideas of what they think a mayor ought to do for them) because he has the greater good in mind. I love that he is willing to get out of his comfort zone to help others, and to ensure that his plan is working.
I guess I watch for a few laughs. But more and more I watch for inspiration. And I find myself wanting to live passionately like Mayor John Henry Berry. It reminds me how Jesus loved and served people.
On tonight’s episode, he was teaching his daughter how to operate a track hoe to help him fix a busted water main. She didn’t think she could do it. In that moment of her insecurity in her own abilities, he told her that she COULD do it… that she had his blood flowing through her veins.
That’s when I was reminded of those times when I don’t think I can do something, and the Lord says gently to my heart and mind, “Sure you can, son, you’ve got my blood flowing through your veins.”
You may not find a humorous reality TV show inspiring… or motivational… or spiritual, but I do. At least this one. And so I cheer for Mayor John Henry Berry. I’m going to keep watching as he whittles away at those 95 points one at a time till his dream becomes reality. Go get ’em, Mayor Berry! You can do it! And you’re inspiring us to believe that we can, too.
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