What Can Free Be Worth?

Why are some folks skeptical of anything free? Probably because they reason if anything comes without a cost, it cannot possibly be of any value. Let’s say they are among that class of individuals who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Some elected officials don’t like this newspaper. That’s their right. And it’s also within their right of free speech to say this is free, and that’s what it’s worth. They use that for that reason to banish our copies from their borough halls. They dislike Spout Off, so they oust us just to show important they are. Amazingly, they are among those who see absolutely nothing amiss in sending their press releases to be printed for the “unwashed masses” to read. Hmmm.
They claim they don’t read this newspaper, but then they mysteriously learn what stories are written about them. Maybe someone’s not telling the whole truth. That, of course, would not be a first either. But we won’t tell, will we?
On the other hand, there are folks, like our readers, who highly value this free product. That makes us feel good. Those compliments are far more than money could ever buy. When they call or write to tell us what a column or story meant to them, or how it’s helped to change their life, this is the greatest job in the world. That’s why we press on to do this work, freely.
Something free is about to take place in Wildwoods Convention Center April 25. It’s the county’s annual Healthcare Resource Day. As part of an outreach, the Parish Nurse Program, which exists through the spirit of volunteerism and efforts of many nurses in churches throughout the county, will be taking a variety of health screening tests. All are free and will include blood pressure checks, cholesterol and blood glucose testing, and some others.
The results may shock you if you never had one of those tests done.
When the county first embarked on its wellness program for employees, there were a number of workers who never thought they had a problem until their blood pressure was taken. Some learned they were in real danger having that silent killer known as high blood pressure, which could have led to hospitalization or worse. Those free checks were their warning sign.
Many of us feel healthy, yet are unaware of what’s lurking just under our skin. Just a quick, painless prick of a needle can reveal so much, maybe show that you need to see a physician. Think about it, all for free. What can that be worth?
Parish nurses are active in the church I attend. A volunteer is in the office between services on the first and third Sundays as well as at the food pantry. Almost to a person each nurse has told me I’m one of the very few who regularly has blood pressure taken. What if they quit? Would we feel better if it cost $5 to have blood pressure checked?
Nurses are also available to answer medical questions all for free. Why don’t more people take advantage of those programs? The volunteers would feel so much better if they were busy instead of watching the second hand twirl around.
A sage opined many moons ago the definition of an expert is someone from 500 miles away in a three-piece suit who, for say $500, would tell you what someone close by would have told you for nothing. Seems there is a lot of truth in that notion. Free advice is not well received, but if we pay a hefty price, we’re sure to follow that advice to the “T.”
Take your mom, for instance. When you had a sore throat, what was the first thing she freely advised you to do? Right! Gargle with salt water or baking soda. How many of us took mom’s advice?
Then, sure as the Lord made green apples, time worsened our symptoms. Out of desperation we would wind up in a doctor’s office among the wheezing and sneezing, probably getting more germs than in a garbage dump.
But it was there, after paying a dear price for his or her valued medical advice, we were often admonished: Gargle with salt water or baking soda. How many of us took the doctor’s advice?
See what I mean about free?
Libraries are in the same boat. Sure, I know we pay a library tax, but for the price of one best seller annually we residents are free to read as many books as our eyes and minds can handle.
With such relatively free access, how many people are so stubborn as not to enter the portals of their local library, yet will pay high sums to read what they could have read for free at their library?
Owners of computers, tablets, iPads and smartphones have immediate access to their library’s vast store of electronic material, yet how many avail themselves of that plethora of reading material? It’s too complicated, they say. Yet all that is required is a library card and a few clicks of a mouse or taps with a finger. What does it take to get one of those library cards? Proof of county, (city or borough) residency. That’s it, and you’ll be reading like in a book store. Can anyone beat that free piece of plastic?
Next time you find something free, don’t cast it away as worthless. Free is good. It brought you today’s edition.