The Pearl of Great Price

 Jesus told the parable of the Pearl of Great Price, for which one would give all that he has.  And the night before He died, He actually gave to His disciples that very thing --- the Pearl, the Treasure, of Peace:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14).  

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world (Jn. 16).

Most of us tend to avoid those who have no peace, for it typically makes us upset to be around them, to experience their fear, their restlessness, their anxiety.  So we may not realize or reflect upon what a gift it is to have peace in our lives.  But watching reality tv brings the world to our doorstep.  We see first-hand, and it becomes like a pattern laid out before us, the results of peace or the lack thereof.

I used to watch a show called 19 Kids and Counting.  The Dugger family was not perfect; in fact, their oldest son brought grief and shame on the entire family after he had left home and established his own family.  However, what was evident throughout all the ups and downs of family life was continuing love and support from all the members to one another.  Their faith sustained them: In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world.

A more recent show, Outdaughtered, follows the adventures of the Busby family who had quintuplets (all girls) several years ago, in addition to one other daughter.  The stresses and strains of having 5 premature babies, and then handling their infancy and toddler years, were evident throughout the years.  One of the children has eye problems that require more than one surgery; another shows fear in almost every new situation.  And yet, the parents continue to support one another with faith, with humor, and with fortitude.  They even bring the children with them to help families devastated by recent hurricanes in Texas and Louisiana.  Peace reigns in that household and overcomes every difficulty in the end.  Nothing is ever easy, but peace and love make it possible.

In contrast, another program follows couples who meet online and think they have found the man/woman of their dreams: sexy, "hot," gorgeous, etc.  Character, evidently, is not all that important to these people -- or, at least, they don't take the time to explore that option.  What happens to those relationships is altogether predictable: anger, hostility, fighting, accusations, blame, etc.   Everyone seeing the relationships unfold knows that we are watching a train wreck ready to happen. 

I have slowly come to the realization that watching this show is not a good thing; it seems to be somewhat like the Roman gladiator contests---watching people kill one another for our own pleasure and entertainment.

When I see them on the path to self-destruction one more time, I want to pour peace into their hearts: I do not give to you as the world gives.  I know these people are no different than I am.  St. Paul tells us in Galatians what human nature is like:  The sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with one another, so that you do not do what you want....the acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like....But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5).

Paul also tells the Galatians, If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.  If reality tv has no other purpose, it paints living portraits for the world to see  the effects of both peace and the lack of peace in our lives.  We cannot give ourselves peace; it is a gift, a pearl of great price, for which a man (or woman) will gladly give all that he/she has.  And, as C. S. Lewis once said, Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in the midst of difficulties.