Nine people from various occupations and parts of the country were dropped off in the wilderness in Venezuela. They’d been given three days of survival training prior to drop off and they had three days of rations to begin a journey they didn’t know the length of. Their task was to find civilization. If they didn’t feel they could go on or if they became seriously ill or injured, they could hit the button on their GPS device and a helicopter would take them away. They had a map and a cache of supplies, but everything else they had to make or find as they lived off the land.
It was an incredible show to watch. Only a few days into their journey, they began starving. The things they had to eat to survive were disgusting in comparison to what I have readily in my pantry and fridge. But they were grateful for it.
As we continued through the episodes, we saw conflicts among the group but also strong friendships, we saw the group battle thick jungle and constant rainstorms, we saw people leave, we saw strength tested to the utmost, we saw people so fatigued from starvation they struggled to make themselves coherent for their on-camera interviews*, we saw people reach down deep inside thhemselves and continue on.
There were at least two people who wowed me with their attitude. It didn’t matter if they hadn’t had anything to eat for a few days but maggots or tiny fish – they stayed positive. One guy, who was among the small group who made it all the way to civilization, talked about how you don’t know what’s ahead but there will be moments of happiness. You just have to look for them.
Their determination to see the journey through, to stay positive in the midst of pure survival was such a powerful lesson to me in my life of relative ease. And even in the hard things, there are always those moments of happiness, if we look for them.
Have you seen this show? Is that something you’d want to do – go on a survival journey? (I probably would have pushed the button when I arrived at the first place to sleep and found it invested with tarantulas and scorpions). What helps you see those moments of happiness, even when the road ahead isn’t easy or clear?
*The camera crew members were required to stay 100 yards from the volunteers. I can’t imagine how heart-breaking that must have been for them to watch these people deteriorate, knowing they couldn’t provide the volunteers with anything.
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I'm not a fan of survival shows. Freaks me out!
My faith gets me through tough times, but I still wouldn't go on a show! LOL
I need to watch this. I eat shows like this up! I'm getting a little tired of reality TV, but this one appeals to me.
I love the psychology behind it.
~ Wendy
That one guy sounds inspiring. I don't like to watch survival type shows though and hadn't heard of this.
Kudos to him. I hope he makes it!
Ahh, glad you added the end note, because I was thinking that I'd be bribing the camera men! 🙂 That is so not something I'd want to do. But it's a great metaphor for the spiritual battles we often find ourselves in. We can quit and return to peace and calm, or we can forge through them to the place God really wants us to be and bear fruit.
Jess – Several of the volunteers were religious and would pray – it was cool to see. Faith and trust get me through too.
Wendy – The show was super fascinating and made me look differently at things I take for granted.
Jessica – The two real positive ones – a guy and girl – both made it to the end. It was super cool!
Sandra – Love this thought! It's so true – the spiritual battles we face, the rough times we go through usually produce the greatest growth, if we allow God to guide us.
I've never watched this show, but it sounds intense! I love what the one participant said about looking for moments of happiness!
NO thank you. I'd definitely watch something like this, but be on a show like this? No way. I have a hard enough time when I see a tiny spider in my living room! LOL
Melissa – Me too! There's always something to be glad about [sounds a little like Pollyanna :)] in everything we experience, isn't there?
Chantele – I figured this was the closest to ever experiencing something like that – from the comfort of my house. 🙂
I haven't seen this show.
I don't like survival type shows either.
I think as in all life, you must look for moments of happiness, no matter how fleeting they may be. It gets you through.
Oh wow, I haven't heard of this show, but I'd love to see it. I love seeing people challenge themselves to their limits and come out on top.
Loree – So true! Those little moments really can move us through, even in the toughest of times.
Sarah – It was inspiring to see how much each person wanted to accomplish this journey – this test of survival – and to witness those who did it.
I haven't even heard of it. But now I'm going to check it out.
Angela – Hope you like it! I was bemoaning our old carpet the other day and started thinking how much these people probably missed having carpet underneath them. Made me grateful I even have carpet. 🙂
This sounds like something we'd love! I'm going to look it up. Thanks for sharing about it!
Elana – Can't wait to hear what you think of the show! I told my husband it kind of made Survivor look like a stay at the Ritz. 🙂