A Lesson From Survivor?

Easily my lovely wife Peggy’s favorite reality show is Survivor. Every Wednesday evening, there is a ritual around the Schilling household. Dinner is prepared a few minutes earlier...the table is cleared...phones are turned off...Willie's toys are put back in his cage and the lovely Mrs. S and I head for the couch as her favorite show fires up at 7:00pm CST. That's right...it's time for Survivor!

While I personally don't watch a ton of TV, this ritual is something I truly enjoy partaking in with Peggy. Last night was no different...accept for a tremendous lesson that became apparent in watching the show.

This years' show has added a unique twist in that before you are finally voted off the Island and the show, you first get banished to Redemption Island where you have secondary challenges designed to give players an opportunity to "get back into the game". This is where the lesson stems from.

There is a young man named Matt (I believe 22 years old) that has spent the vast majority of his 29 days playing the game on Redemption Island. He is a tremendously strong Christian kid. His Faith and Belief in God, his higher source is obviously his number one value and driving force.

Personally I believe that we each individually need to have belief in higher source. I know mine and that’s my choice. It’s not for me to tell you what or who to believe in rather it is my opportunity to encourage you to have faith and belief in higher source whether that be God, Allah, Buddha, Hindi, The Universe, whatever you choose to call it. I’m here to teach not preach.

Now for the back story on Survivor. Only a few days into this 39 day fight for Survival, he was banished to Redemption Island. Since then, he has repeatedly been shown being faithful and gaining his strength from his "quiet time" with God. He has won multiple "duels" that have allowed him to remain in the game. In fact after one duel, he was allowed to return back to his tribe.

Unfortunately for him, that was short-lived because he shared his true feelings and was determined to be a potential threat and re-banished once again. His statement after the fact was, "What did I do? All I want to be is liked and included."

Since then, he has continually questioned his existence and why he is in the game in the first place and what God's purpose is for challenging him in the ways he has been challenged. Last night showed him questioning God directly for these challenges; self-doubt creeping in; a human desire to "give up" and ultimately the statement, "I don't understand why this is happening but I will be here as long as God wants me to be here."

When the "duel" to stay in the game began, he said "I'm ready to go home...but if God wants me to be here I'll be here". He fell behind early in the competition to stay, but quickly came back not only to survive but to win. He's still in the game...and still questioning why God "is doing this to him".

His human self-doubt and questioning is just that...human. He is not experiencing anything different from what you and I experience daily. To me, the reason he is still there is “Perfectly Obvious”...to share with you, me, everyone the power of Faith, Belief and Obedience to purpose. Matt has been granted a tremendous platform to witness to all that want to take notice...and he has done an amazing job of it…by simply being who he is.

Why has this made such a big impact on me? It’s actually easy to understand. My journey parallels his in that this lesson is exactly what I need to be reminded of in my pursuit of building my new products, training organization and becoming a better teacher going forward. I'm pretty sure in this day and age...I'm not the only person that can use that type of encouragement.

There are many trials and tribulations going on around us far too consistently these days…the Tsunami in Japan…wildfires throughout Texas…Tornado's destroying the Southeast. All of these can and are being questioned by our “humanness”. I certainly don’t understand everything that is taking place…but I do believe that out of these challenges will come great opportunity.

You have been put on this planet to accomplish great things. Some of you already have...and some are waiting to explode on to the scene. No matter where you are at the moment, your future is still ahead of you. Take Matt's example to heart...stay the course. You may not understand everything, that's okay and exactly the way it is supposed to transpire.

Keep after it...you are destined for greatness!

P.S. If you haven’t had a chance to hear Carrie Underwood sing “How Great Thou Art” check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLLMzr3PFgk WOW!!!!