Make It Work

Ever watched a reality TV show? Anyone?

Chances are, if you own a television anymore or even a computer with Internet access, you’ve found it hard not to watch a reality show.

Mostly because they’re everywhere.

I’m not an incredibly huge fan. I missed the “Survivor” boat, “Big Brother” is a bore to me, and no, I have never and will never view “Jersey Shore.” But I have a few of these shows that I regularly follow.

Regardless, in any single episode, there’s some good ol’ backstabbing, gossiping, griping, loathing, and some other not nice words going on causing a big ruckus. It’s all about drama. Whether it’s a behind-the-scenes interview or right in the middle of all the action, you can bet your last cup of coffee that there will be a flat-out disagreement blown out of proportion.

We can’t all really “like” each other. Face it: There are things about some people we just can’t stand. Likewise, there are things about myself I am certain people I interact with greatly dislike.

If for no other reason I know this because I don’t like these things about myself.

Sometimes (and this may be how my over-thoughtful mind operates) I imagine what it would be like if my life were a reality TV show. I wonder what people would say behind-the-scenes in those interviews with the white walls in the background – or, even, what I would say in an interview about a situation that didn’t go so swimmingly.

Not that I would ever - EVER - want to be on one. A reality show, I mean.

More and more so, it’s a constant struggle to avoid frustration. It’s sometimes awfully tough to find peace even in chaos. When we’re at our worst, our most tired, stressed and confused, anger tends to take over and words come out that we don’t really mean.

Ever done that before?

And while our lives may not be as uninteresting as the Kardashians, we can certainly think about a few things in our own, very real, reality:

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. … Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” – Galatians 5:13-15, 25-26

Goodness, that’s so difficult to do.

In the words of dear Tim Gunn, we just have to “Make it work.” We do have to look out for ourselves, but in the process we ought not to take down everyone else. Showing someone love who doesn’t show it to you is a strain, but it can definitely change things around.

Guilty-pleasure reality shows I enjoy watching:

1. “Project Runway”
2. “Cake Boss”
3. “Food Network Star”
4. “The Apprentice”
5. “Top Chef”
6. “The Voice”
7. “America’s Next Top Model”
8. “What Not to Wear”
9. “DC Cupcakes”
10. “Undercover Boss”

Check out this other thoughtful on reality TV.