Lessons Learned From Reality TV

I can't stand Reality TV! For starters Reality TV ain't real! Sure, sports are pretty close (even then there are myriad ways to cheat) but most of Reality TV shows are full of bull crap and American Idol is the granddaddy of them all. Hundreds of thousands of people try out for that show and some how the most ridiculous performers find their way in front of the judges?

Another reason I don't like Reality TV is that it brings out the worst of people. Especially when they sequester a group of strangers in some strange building with little or no contact with the outside world. Soon really nice men and women come off being total psychopaths, cry-babies, and selfish jerks.

However, a couple years ago I could not fight the temptation any longer and began watching The Amazing Race. Mostly because I love to travel and learn about other countries and cultures but notice that this group of contestants remain in the world so they don't end up all squirrely.

Last episode my favorite team, father and son duo Mel and Mike White were eliminated. I liked these two and not just because Mike played the creepy high school teacher on Orange County. Mel has been a minister and speech writer for the Religious Right until he admitted he was gay. He remains a clergyman today and has a lot of wisdom packed away and occasionally shared some of his considerate thoughts with The Amazing Race audience.

On the second episode Mel found himself atop a mountain in the Alps waiting to hang glide down. However, the hang gliders could not take off until the wind subsided, or the player could opt to run to the bottom of the mountain which would take about an hour as opposed to the 10 minutes it would take to glide down. Mel had aggravated an old groin injury and there was no way he could run like everyone else.

As he waited he said something I couldn't stop thinking about. He said something to the effect, "I can't pray for divine intervention. God has enough to do. I'm in this beautiful place with my great son and I'm in an incredible race and I should be grateful for that." This was a change to the usual "Please God, help me," rambling that racers usually exclaim. It was refreshing.

A couple days later I was visiting with a terminally ill patient. She is in her mid-fifties and has been fighting breast cancer for almost two years and recently the cancer had spread throughout her body. Fate had given this family a harsh blow and though it was tragic they had a lot to be grateful for. They had been blessed with a lovely family and were financially comfortable as well.

But when I asked how they were coping with the recent development they insisted that God was going to heal her. They were positive that the cancer would vanish and they could continue on with their lives as if they were special, exempt from death, loss, and sadness. There was no option, God would heal this woman sparring them the pain until...well, I guess until next time, and then, well, I guess God would heal her again and again and again...

As I drove away I had numerous concerns but out of no where I thought of Mel's wise comments. I believe in the power of prayer but I also believe it is important to be grateful for what God has given us because here in the Good Old USA we have been given more than the vast majority our fellow human beings. Unfortunately, we are all guaranteed pain and loss. I guess I am just cold-hearted but it is one thing to pray for a sick child to be spared and another to ask God to make an exception for an older person who has lived a good life full of blessings.

Am I onto something or just cold and cruel? Oh, crap, gotta go watch the end of The Amazing Race.

PS Recently Heidi got me interested in The Biggest Loser. I can usually handle this show because the motives for being on the show are generally noble. For example, one of this season's most successful contestants came onto the show at 5'6" and weighing 360 pounds at 28 years old. THAT'S A DEATH SENTENCE! But even then, staying at that ranch results in obnoxious drama so I'm still deciding if I am to incorporate this show into TV watching.