When reality TV helps to make sense of reality

The last three weeks have found me announcing that I’m stepping into my own Jordan River, visiting Angkor Wat, and spending two weeks at a gathering of several hundred co-workers.

And then I came home to the front door on my building being broken and unable to be repaired due to Spring Festival; the pipes under my kitchen sink being replaced without informing residents; noticing as I was showering that half of my shower rings were out (and upon further investigation it was because the rod had fallen and was now balanced on top of the holder); some food missing, and the need to rewash all of my towels.

While it’s normal to have a bit of a let down, I felt like I had a crash landing.

I consoled myself by watching one of my favorite TV shows: Survivor.

This is where I could start gushing and sound like a pithed frog, I love Survivor so much. Suffice it to say that if I ever got a PhD (and, just to be clear, I will never, ever get one), I would do my dissertation on the social interactions of Survivor. Sensing I am on the verge of babbling, I’ll move on to the real point of this post.

While in Thailand I was asked to deliver a high school commencement talk for two gals who will graduate this year. I was faced with the choice of either making a rather generic talk {though good friends, these two are as different as night and day}, or making two short talks. I chose the latter.

The first talk was related to Survivor and helps remind me that pipes may be changed, doors not work, and loads of laundry may need to be done, yet in the end, that’s not what’ s important.

Here is the commencement address for an outstanding young woman.

Our paths first crossed during new teacher orientation in Cal Poly – you were a baby. All I knew of you at that point was that you were a DELIGHT to your parents.

I didn’t know that we would have had oddly similar paths in China – both living in Beijing, Lhasa, and Chengdu – though for different amounts of time or that we’d graduate from this body at the same time.

Several years ago at dinner we learned we spoke a shared secret language and it went something like this:

 Russell

Coach

Parvarti

Boston Rob

Jeff

Hidden Immunity Idol

Redemption Island

Fire represents life

Fans vs Favorites

Heros and Villans

Out-wit, out last, out play

The tribe has spoken

flickr creative commons Loren Sztajer

Do you remember how we squealed in connection and looked at each other like – you get it, you REALLY get it. We spoke the language of Survivor.

(I’m not sure who moved further in your parents’ eyes that day … you up a few notches, or, more likely, me down :))

Ms. C, as we gather here together to mark and celebrate your high school graduation, it is through the lens that we also mark and celebrate how you are a Soul Survivor – s-o-u-l.

Growing up in China is not for the faint of heart, is it? You have had how many homes? How many teammates? How many good byes? How many plane rides? How many opportunities to see up close and personal that God is not a dog to be tamed?

You have tasted pain and disappointment in your life that cannot be easily brushed under the rug. Well, it can, but it shouldn’t be and thankfully you and your family have not.

Standing here on the brink of your adulthood, we look back on how you have played the game of Soul Survivor–

I see a young woman who had outlasted the attacks of the enemy

Outwitted the lies the world wants you to believe

Outplayed the naysayers as you have a zest and love for life that is infectious. You create art, you write beautiful words, you see through your camera lens and capture it for us. You are a cherished friend, a loving older sister, a beloved daughter.

As we come to this benediction of your childhood, the blessing and challenge I have for you is from Philippians 3.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Ms. C, you know that at the end of each tribal council Jeff will read the votes cast and the tribes slowly shrink until there are only two or three left. After the final tribal council they all gather again to listen to the reading of the names and to find out who is the sole Survivor.

Ms. C, your tribe has gathered here today …. And you are … the Soul Survivor. 

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Q4U: What TV shows are you drawn to? Do tell!