I have to admit that I do like a couple of reality TV shows. My favorite is on the History channel – “Alone.” It features true wilderness survival experts living in the Artic. Second would be “The Amazing Race.” I despise the crazy drama and game playing, but I like the variety of challenges the producers present to them.

But since I have already watched the latest season of “The Crown” on Netflix, I watched a season of “Survivor.”

For those unfamiliar with the show, it features folks as they live together for 39 days in a rustic beach environment. The series began with a lot of attention to actual survival with few benefits of comfort provided the competitors. Now it is less on physical survival and more on social survival. People literally vote others “off the island” with lots of scheming and trickery.

Last Christmas the kids introduced us to a new version of Monopoly. In this version, you were encouraged to lie and cheat to win. How silly – we knew how to do that when we were kids. Seriously, could you ever trust the sibling who was the banker?

“Survivor” is a lot like cheating Monopoly but with a lot of whining and fighting.

Anyway, this particular season of “Survivor” pitted a tribe of “Heroes” against a tribe of “Villains.” And, in spite of their initial misgivings about the labels, the individuals often played true to the characterization. At several points in the season a player would respond to a question about their actions, “Hey, I’m a villain!” I haven’t watched the whole series yet, but it looks like the villains will win.

So, what about real, not TV life?

Awhile back, a friend cautioned me about someone reminding me of their involvement in wicked activities. It was a helpful admonishment. I was only looking at the good and ignoring the bad. I was being naive and their warning was helpful.

So, are we bad or good? Villain or hero? Only God knows our true heart. I believe that left to our own, mankind grows in their wickedness. We become more centered on ourselves. And living in that self-centered state, that even when we are kind, we are doing it for ourselves.

But, I am so very thankful that all of us can be changed. Instead of fighting to be the center of our own universe, we can establish an “alliance” with God Himself. It is not an equal partnership – He becomes the Lord of our lives and we are finally able to rest, knowing that we are at peace with God, with others, with ourselves.

We cannot change on our own, we need the Creator, God Himself, to change us. And, that process will take every moment for the rest of our lives. One huge decision to give our life to Him and then a million daily decisions to stay the course. We do not have to be villains. We cannot, on our own, be heroes. But, we can be His.

Not sure why I am writing this today, but it comes from my heart. Ready to help you.

Love,

Jill (just one of God’s kids)

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. (John 3:16-18, The Message)