A Survivor Christmas

Last night was the finale of the 15th edition of Survivor, the reality tv show where contestants must outwit, outlast, and outplay their opponents to win $1 million while at the same time being dropped off in a remote jungle. Last night's winner was Todd Herzog, a 22 year old flight attendant from Utah. In all my years of watching the show, he probably played the best strategic game of all.

One thing that is always a constant in this show is the scheming that continually takes place on the cameras but not always in front of the other contestants. Part of that scheming is trying to determine against whom you will have the best chance of winning $1 million. In the end, people you may have lied to, tricked, etc. have to vote on whether or not you get the prize compared to the other one or two final contestants. In previous editions, there has been much talk about which contestant's life demonstrated a greater need for the big prize. This year was no different.

Enter Denise, a 40 year old happily married mother of three who works as a school lunch lady for $7 an hour. Or at least she did work as a school lunch lady. Upon returning from the show and to work, she lost her job because her employers felt her presence might be too disruptive to the school. She now works as a janitor. Denise had made it to the final four. Those four contestants had banded together early and stuck together all the way to the end. However, Denise was always at the bottom of the totem pole of four. When it came down to deciding which of these final four contestants would be voted off, the one contestant who held the swing vote regarding keeping Denise in the finals and giving her a chance at the prize deliberated continually over Denise's financial situation.

As I watched the moral quandry this contestant went through and what I believe to be real anguish on her face when the decision making time came, I began to think about what I would do in her situation. I would love to give Survivor a try sometime. If I was able to make it to this point, what would be the major factor in my decision? A lot of folks say they want to go to the end with the best in order to be competitive all the way to the end. Then again, $1 million is a lot of money. Would I be willing to lose it to someone who may need it a little more than I because it would be a wonderfully altruistic or compassionate thing to do, especially knowing that millions of people would be watching and evaluating my every word and action? Or do I want to come home with a lot of money because that is after all why I'm playing the game?

Which brings me to Christmas, believe it or not. Jesus did what was best for us. I don't believe Jesus would have been a contestant on Survivor: Dead Sea had he been given the chance. But I do know that he gave up a pretty high position of power, prestige, and reward because we needed it more. He was motivated by obedience to his heavenly father and love and compassion for us. It did not matter how much he would miss out on; it only mattered that we might be given a chance at eternity with his father in heaven.

Merry Christmas!

Survivor Part 2 - Beauty that lasts

Ok, here's my second set of thoughts from watching the Survivor finale Sunday night. Imagine how you would look if you spent 39 days on a remote island or in a remote jungle without any basic facilities like showers, running water in general, toilets, etc. Well, that's how these people look too. My wife is so glad we don't have smell-o-vision yet.

WARNING: The next paragraph or two may come off as chauvinistic, sexist, and just plain ol' male drivel. However, read through it and you will see a wonderful recovery at the end.

Every season there are one or two women on the show who try to use their feminine charms to get them through the game. They are usually quite attractive in every sense of the word. The other women often recognize this. The males usually do too, but only if they are over the age of thirty and know they really don't stand a chance with these women. BTW, the attractive women usually target the under thirty set anyway.

Now for the recovery. Remember the fact that there are no facilities of any type. That includes make-up. I am always amazed at how different most of the women look on the finale show. They have had showers, done their hair, and put on make-up. The guys usually don't look much different with the exception of maybe a shave. And almost always, we (the missus and I) agree that we liked the physical appearance of the women on the island/jungle better. It's not that they are not attractive with make-up and done hair, you just get used to how someone looks and that's how you like them.

OK, maybe that not's a recovery in your mind, but I know I'm no chauvinist. Just ask my wife. She'll tell you that I find her the most attractive when she feels she is at her worst.

Faith journey connections - where are they? The real rewards of a faith journey come when you are in the trenches, getting dirty, struggling with life, and when you generally feel like you are at your least attractive, at least in terms of your faith journey. When you come out of those struggles with new understanding, that "natural beauty" shines through and people take notice. When we put on our best face and pretend this is how we always are, it may look good, but it doesn't last. I prefer natural, honest beauty (and faith).

Just a Thought.

Survivor Part 1 - Power, Bitterness, & Games

One of my favorite shows to watch is Survivor. I don't watch a lot of tv, but this one show I will not miss. We tape it every week. In fact, it's a date for the missus and me. We can count on the other person stopping so we can watch it together.

I'm writing while watching the finale. Before I finish writing, the winner will be named and someone will win $1 million. (BTW, it was Yul, the tall Korean?? guy) One thing I always find ridiculous in watching the finale is how bitter the losers, uh . . er. . .I mean the jury is. There is always a group of people who were outwitted, outplayed, just plain outsmarted that cry like a bunch of babies. They inevitably ask the final players questions that demonstrate that they, the jury, now have the power.

The premise of the game is to outwit, outsmart, outplay your competitors. I'm not condoning dishonesty or weak ethics in life, but the bottom line is THIS IS A GAME! I'm willing to bet my 401K that those who are the most bitter would have done the same things had they been given the opportunity. They never got the chance because they did not play as well.

This is a blog about finding connections in what happens in our ordinary lives to what God wants to do in our lives. It's all about our faith journeys. On our faith journeys, there will be a lot of times where we are in the losers seat. Life will not be fair. People around you will take advantage of you and they will use you.

When this happens, we get to choose how we will respond. We don't have to like it, but bitterness is not the answer. Power has nothing to do with how you control others or how you have been controlled. Power can only be used against us when we give it to others. Our response is the real indicator.

What's any of this got to do with our faith journeys? Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this month, modeled real power. Jesus, the son of God, gave it all up to take on human form. Not only did he take on human form, but he obeyed the limits of that form, even unto death. Death couldn't hold him, which is why we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, commonly called Easter. And in the end, his name was made greatest of all. That is real power.

We too can experience that kind of power by entering into a faith journey and losing our self in Christ. Life's experiences will bring moment of potential bitterness. It helps to know that we are on a journey and this is not our final destination. Besides, we are told to count it all joy when trials and troubles come our way. Just like on Survivor, it's how you play right up to the end that determines whether or not you win. Only the prize is worth a lot more than $1 million.