Hi, my name is Mary and I love reality shows.   There, I admit it and I'm not even ashamed of it.  I don't watch Survivor – too many bugs and weird stuff to eat.   I do watch the Bachelor and the Bachelorette because I love a good love story — and I'm ALWAYS hopeful that THIS time they will stay together.  I don't know why 6 weeks of flying around in helicopters, sailing off the coast of St Croix, strolling the streets of France, and a host of other AMAZING happens can't prepare a couple for real life.  Doesn't your life look like that?

I LOVE The Amazing Race but I always seem to miss the start of it and then I'm behind — and truthfully, that one just makes me feel lazy — all that running and rushing.  Can't we find a leisurely pace and stick with that.

I'm also a HUGE Project Runway fan.  I've watched since the very beginning and loved every season.  I like to believe that I could be a designer if only I could sew, not that I have the least bit of understanding about design or colors, balance, textures and all those other words Tim Gunn tosses around.

Another favorite is Top Chef..   The whole cooking thing fascinates me and if I had the time…. oh, who am I kidding, if I had the time I'd just read more.

As someone who loves reality shows, I'm always shocked when Reality slaps me in the face.  I assume that everyone is truly kind and honest deep down.  I believe that people don't hurt others on purpose and I tend to forget that people are human – and flawed.  Just like me.

When I find myself smack dab in the middle of a reality slap, I try to remember the words Paul wrote in the book of Romans

For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.  Romans 7:19

When I find myself on the receiving end of hurt, I remember that I've hurt people, too.  I know just how Paul feels.  I struggle.  I want to do the right thing and I don't.  I want to be all those wonderful Christian attributes – kind, compassionate, merciful, giving, faithful. loving, and all the others.   Many days, I'm not.  I want to do the good, but I end up in the bad.  I'm human and flawed.   Most days I'm just a mess.  I'm blessed because I know I'm saved by grace – and not only saved by grace, but also into grace.

 Also through Him, we have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Romans 5:18 

Read that verse again — into this grace in which we stand — amazing.  We aren't just saved by grace but into grace!

It's in this grace I want to stand.  It's in this grace  I want to live.  It's in this grace I find my reality, I find my reason for being, and it's in this grace I find my sanctuary.

I'll stand in this grace and face reality head on – slaps and all. And in this grace I will find the joy of knowing God and the hope that will sustain me, the hope of the glory of God.  It's an amazing place — this place of Grace.