From April 2001 to July 2002, I thoroughly enjoyed watching the NBC game/reality show named Weakest Link. Based on a British show by the same name, the host – Anne Robinson, would ask the team (which consisted of eight contestants) a chain of questions. Each question gave the contestants the opportunity to show their intellectual skills. From my recollection, the goal of each contestant was to correctly answer each question as well as “bank” as much money as possible in the process. The ideal situation was for each contestant to remember to “bank” before they were asked the next question. This would guarantee the maximum amount of money to be banked before the time ran out for that particular round.
At the end of each round, the team eliminated one of the contestants by voting him/her as the weakest link. Being voted as the weakest link was determined by the following criteria:
1. Giving too many incorrect answers,
2. Incorrectly answering too many high monetary value questions or correctly answering too many low monetary value questions, and/or
3. Not banking enough money when they had the opportunity.
In essence, the team voting them as the weakest link meant they were too much of a risk, lacking the skills to answer the questions correctly as well as being strategically deficient to bank the maximum amount of money possible, when given the opportunity.
It is interesting that the principle goals of this game/reality show can be translated and is reflective in our family teams as well. When we view our family unit as a team, our goal should be to answer as many questions correctly as we journey through life’s various tests. Additionally, each and every one on the team should “bank” as much wisdom as possible to avoid making unwise choices that can cost the team greatly. That’s right! Since the family unit is a team which works interdependently where none of us is an island, our individual unwise choices place the entire team at risk.
As I reflect on my teenage years and early adult life, my perception is that I was the weakest link – a huge liability to my family team. I allowed myself to be tricked, bamboozled, and hoodwinked into a pattern of life choices that were motivated by a spirit of selfishness and self-absorption. Unfortunately, my state of self-delusion blinded me from the fact that my unwise choices were not only negatively affecting me, but everyone I was in relationship with as well. The unnecessary collateral damage the family team members experienced was dependent upon the closeness of our fellowship. Consequently, the ones closest to me suffered the most – financially, emotionally, physically, as well as spiritually.
Today because of God’s Grace and Truth, I can confidently say I am no longer a liability to my family team; I am a HUGE asset. Divine Reversal is a wonderful thing! However, please let this moment of self-disclosure cause you to pause for personal reflection. Take the time and consider this:
· If your family team were to take a vote, would you be chosen as the weakest link?
· Are your family team members experiencing unnecessary collateral damage because you are choosing a lifestyle of selfishness and self-absorption?
· Have you chosen to bank the wisdom that is necessary to make wise choices, especially during the pressure moments of life?
I am hopeful that this food for thought provokes you to wake the Heaven up to raze (demolish) hell. Begin to critically process your life choices. You may just find that it’s costing you and your team more than you bargained for. Take it from me. Taking “The Walk of Shame” is no fun at all. Continue to adequately build upon your character and you’ll find your link in the family chain being strengthened.
© 2011 Julianne Pearson
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