Swaporama
Where were you on 2 October 1976? I was at home, sat in front of our television with my sister.
It was a Saturday morning and the BBC launched it’s new show, Multi-Coloured Swap Shop.
Hosted by Noel Edmunds, the show (known simply as Swap Shop) was groundbreaking in many ways. It was aimed at children, live, three hours long and used the phone-in format for the first time on TV.
The programme included music, visits from public figures, competitions, and cartoons. The highlight of the show was the outside broadcast element, ‘Swaporama’.
A young Keith Chegwin would draw thousands, wherever he was located, as the children swapped their belongings with others. It was great TV watching a child exchange Ker-Plunk for an Action Man!
It was my essential Saturday morning television, until it went off air in March 1982.
In many ways this show was ahead of its time, being live, interacting with its audience on the phone, and encouraging the exchange of unwanted toys.
The idea of swapping one thing for another was highlighted recently when I read Isaiah. This epic prophetic Old Testament book, spoke of God’s judgement on various nations, but also foretold of a ‘Servant’ who would bring hope and divine exchanges. It states He will…
“…bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”
These words, part of a larger narrative, were said at a time when all seemed lost to the Israelites. They had forsaken God and were defeated by powerful foreign Empires.
Against this hopeless back drop, God promised to send his ‘Servant’ who would deal with their ashes*, mourning and despair (ashes* people would pour these on their heads in sad and distressing times).
The ‘Servant’ would swap these for a crown of beauty, bring joy and praise. We know later that the ‘Servant’ was Jesus – the one who changed everything by what he did when He died on the cross.
Jesus is still into ‘Swaporama’ today, exchanging hurts, pains and rejection, with His healing, accepting, transforming love.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader