Uchenna and Joyce win the Amazing race in style. After coming in last on the second to last pit stop, they were stripped of all their possessions and money for the final leg. After begging for cash and getting what looked like 6 or 7 hours behind, the caught up with the others in Puerto Rico. Both other teams made critical mistakes and Rob and Amber had trouble finding their last clue, putting Uchenna and Joyce in the lead. But the cab ride to the finish was more money – by like $50 – than they had, and Uchenna refused to go to the finish until they had paid the cabbie the full fare. Begging from the few pedestrians and passing cars, they managed to raise the money and pay the driver before the second place team arrived.
My hat’s off to Uchenna for insisting on doing the right thing, even with a million dollars on the line. It would have been easy to blow off ht lowly cab driver, I’m certain that Rob would have (heck I was kind of wishing he would!), and run for the finish, but he refused to walk on the little guy for his own gain. Am I making a big deal of this? You bet, but it is a big deal. Yeah, I know it’s an extravagant around the world race for fabulous wealth and to enrich the companies that advertise on the show, but in the midst of that, Uchenna managed to act like Jesus.
Upon further reflection …
I’ve been thinking about this more since I posted it. It wasn’t just this last day’s behavior that was impressive, throughout the entire race they behaved with grace and love toward each other and the other teams.
- Early on, when Gretchen and Meredeth came in last and had all their money taken away, Uchenna and Joyce gave them some cash.
- When they took the fast forward (a sort of shortcut to the pit stop) and Joyce had to cut her hair to go on, Uchenna was consistently and constantly supportive and praised her and encouraged her.
- They did not fight and I don’t remember them having much disagreements. They worked together, and their love for each other was evident by their demeanor.
- At the end, with Uchenna insisting they wait and pay the cab fare, at the gate to the park where the finish line would be, Joyce never lashed out or even criticized her husband. She did once say something like, “Maybe we can just go on.”, but when Uchenna refused she simply supported him and went back to begging. She stood behind him.
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.Proverbs 31:10-12
I watched that show too and noticed the exact same thing. I was very glad they won because of the exact same reasons. They showed great integrity in a world where it is lacking. They were always so appreciative of others and their surroundings. Plus the other two couples in the finals already had their own time of glory in previous endeavors. And I think they had a great response too for what they would do with the money…start a family. And I am sure with that they will eventually go to Disney World!
I didn’t watch the show all season, but then saw the recap last night. I noticed immediately all the under-handed things that Rob and Amber did, especially driving right past when that other team rolled their jeep, justifying “They totally wouldn’t have stopped for us.” I was really hoping they wouldn’t win — it seems so much in “reality” TV that the one who cheats the best, wins. I also noticed that Uchenna and Joyce were constantly helping the others — didn’t they also help the older couple lifting that boat? Again, I was hoping they would win, just to show that the nice guy doesn’t always finish last!