28 Sep 05 112791383493049875

The thing about reality TV is that it brings to the surface who you really are. You hear the participants talk about favorable or unfavorable editing - which may be true. You hear them talk about not understanding the role each person needs to play - which may also be true. Not having been on TV, but having a real life, I would say the cameras not only add ten pounds they reveal your character. Like aging, reality TV exaggerates your character qualities.

The amazing race has a fun concept this year. Families compete for whatever the prizes will be. Perhaps the biggest prize is seeing which family can be loving and caring to each other, good sports and helpful to others under intense pressure and scrutiny.

Last night

(SPOILER WARNING - IF YOU TAPED THE SHOW AND PLAN TO WATCH IT TODAY QUIT READING)

revealed that nice families do finish last. The Black family handled themselves so well, with incredible grace under tremendous pressure and defeat.

The Weaver family might be the sentimental choice having lost their father / husband in an accident. They talk of faith and pray on camera. I’m ok with that. I was wondering exactly what Jesus was going to do when called upon while they were lost and looking at the map. I’m not sure that Jesus is in the GPS business. I’m pretty sure he’s going to let ONSTAR take care of those details.

The team made up of brother-in-laws and father-in-law (the Aiello family) is going to be fun to watch as will be the team of siblings (the Linz family) and the daughters and father team (the Bransen family). This all brings me to the Paolo family - yikes!

The profile of this family declares that constant bickering is a norm for this family. It also said they are willing to put their differences aside for $1 million dollars. It sure did not seem like that last night. I don’t know these people and was embarrassed for them. The boys are ugly (not talking about appearance here), mean and disrespectful. They speak to each other and to their parents in a horrific way. Let’s just that in a different time (if Moses were still around) and these kids popped off to their parents like they did on national TV there would be quite a few rocks heading in their direction.

Beth mentioned how since they didn’t finish in last place on the first leg of the race that everything was accepted. The spoiled rotten, abusive behavior was tolerated because they didn’t end up in last place. If they do lose, and frankly I was hoping it was going to be last night, I hope they show the same grace TO EACH OTHER as did the Black family.

What if our spiritual family became the subject of a reality TV show? What if right out there in from of God and everybody our character, our actions and attitudes are on display for all to see?

On the lighter side, how do you think you and your family would do on such a contest as the amazing race?