rumiNATION

Hi. My name's Tim. And I watch Survivor.

People at work are shocked when I want to watch it. I don't know if it's because of me or because of the show. Or both. Anyway.

This season of Survivor has suprised me. Not due to the scripted "suprises" in the show, mind you. Sure, the redemption island thing is new this year. And there have been some twists and turns involving that story line. But you kind of expect there to be curve balls after so many seasons. They have to do something to try to keep things fresh, I suppose.

No, the thing that's suprised me most this season is a redemption of a different kind. And I'll admit, at first it made me cringe. Not more than a couple episodes in, this guy Matty started to talk about Jesus. Now, that's not what made me cringe. I mean, I know lots of people who talk about Jesus. But I'm well familiar with the portayal of Christians in pop culture. From as far back as Jon Brennan on the Real World, most Christians in reality TV are basically caricatures who seem to alient people just by looking at them. So I expected the worst when Matty started talking about God's purpose for him in the game of Survivor every episode.

But while the dialogue has seemed a bit awkward at times, it also has seemed genuine. And while there have been a few people who've made fun of him on the show, there have also been a good number of people who've taken him seriously. Most recently, the lady eliminated from redemption island on tonight's episode said (before she left) that talking to Matty had made her realize how important faith is. She went on to say that she was looking forward to getting home and finding a church. Really.

Like I said, there are still moments when Matty says things that make me furrow my brow or shake my head. And there are still moments when the people on the show take little pokes at him. But for the most part, Survivor has done something that I haven't seen on television... maybe ever. They've given a prime time platform to a guy who, presumably, is trying to live his life the way God tells him to. Not preaching at every drop of the hat, just living.

I am impressed. I am humbled. I am inspired.

Go Matty.