Silent Weakness

Raoul’s 2 Cents. September 25, 2026

Survivor

Please move on to the jokes if you don’t want to ponder. (Tired and sleepy as I write this)

Relaxing after a long week, flipping through a list of boring channels, I stopped at an old familiar addiction — the Survivor TV series. The scene was the Tribal Council — where the emotions ran high as the contestants justified their backstabbing to the jury of their peers. Many shows have come and gone but this live-action drama series has been around since May 31, 2000 and its 51st season just started this week. The million dollar prize to the lone survivor is still the same.

SHORT CHANGED

A million back in 2000 is actually worth $1.9 million today. That means these adventure seekers of today are battling for the buying power of just about half of the first season … yet there is still a waiting list of contestants. Why? Money isn’t the only perk. Many of the losers proclaimed they joined for the adventure … to discover who they are and what they are made of. It’s therapeutic.

I met one of the crew members in church a while back. He was isolated from the world along with the contestants for more than 39 days. People don’t realize how much planning goes behind the scenes. (Did I tell you, I have relatives who own beach houses not too far away from some of those barren islands? Growing up, our ships used to pass those islands.)

Would I want to subject myself to the heat, the cold, the mosquitoes, the back-biting, the starvation for a million dollars? Are you kidding? Of course I would … NOT!!! Well, maybe in my younger years I would have.

Now if they come up with a “Survivors Senior Edition: Outlast, Outplay, Drop Dead,” maybe then I’d consider it. Wouldn’t that be fun? Old people with wrinkled tattoos running in their flabby underwear, checking their blood pressure before a physical challenge; jumping over hoops with their oxygen tanks; playing chess instead of solving puzzles; going through a maze without their glasses; shouting their instructions because everyone is deaf; fence-fighting with their canes; and eating without their dentures.

Kidding aside, the show is a microcosm of our real “game of life.” Just like the contestants, we are born in different circumstances and exposed to different opportunities. Some of us blame, give up early and pout in isolation while others face challenges head on. Alliances and friendships are developed, deeper relationships turn romantic and families are born. It’s the circle of life.

It’s fascinating how Survivor breaks the stereotypes. The good-looking ones aren’t as attractive without their makeup. The “uglies” have beautiful compassionate souls. The athletes have more than just muscles. The strategists are untrusthworthy opportunists. The homosexuals are tough as nails. The “gorillas” are playful chimpanzees … and they cry. Indeed, the show teaches us not to judge the books by their covers.

One big beautiful difference? In Survivor only one person gets the grand prize whereas in life, everyone has the opportunity to get to heaven. And it isn’t based on social status, gender, race or any of these trivial things. It isn’t even about how many “brownie points” one has accumulated in one’s lifetime. It’s based on grace and one’s faith in Christ.

But this is just me. TGIF people!

Quotes of the Week

“The child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.”

— African Proverb

“I didn’t win; I just outlasted everyone else’s bad luck!”

— Anonymous

“Today’s win was brought to you by caffeine and a sprinkle of audacity!”

— Anonymous

“Winning isn’t just about crossing the finish line first; it’s also about crossing it with a funny victory pose.”

— Anonymous

“Winning may not solve all your problems, but it sure does make them funnier.”

— Anonymous

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

— Esther 4:14

“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

— Deuteronomy 20:4

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

— 2 Timothy 4: 7

Memes of the Week

Send me your jokes & memes so I can share them with the rest of our TGIF family. This week, we thank Jason of Eagle Rock, Drake of LA, CA, Donovan of Ireland, and Debra of La Habra.

I collaborated with my friend and jokester,Terry Cassel for these below.

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