I am not a fan of reality television. I prefer a stiff shot of epicac to five minutes of anything even remotely associated with Jeff Probst. I do, however, really like those historical “house” shows where people agree to recreate the past, to experience what it was like to live before television, air conditioning, and Little Debbie Snack Cakes. I liked 1900 House, enjoyed Frontier House, and then got addicted to Colonial House, and Empire House. These experiments are strictly overseen by “experts”, to ensure authenticity, and yet participants don’t exactly fly without a net.
They all know these experiments are temporary, and that they will be separated from their George Foreman Grills for only a few weeks. Usually some concessions are made for the comfort of the participants as well. The Women of 1900 house were allowed modern shampoo. All the participants of Colonial House were allowed toothbrushes and tooth paste. Still, a real taste of the past was experienced by participant and viewer, and thus we have a better understanding of history.
In the January 17 issue of the New Yorker, Billy Frolick did a mock school-project piece entitled 1992 House (p.49), in which a school boy tries to survive what it would have been like to live way back in 1992. He had to give up his iPod, couldn’t Tivo his favorite programs, couldn’t maintain his Blog, or use his digital camera. He was allowed to use his cell phone, but not allowed to text message. He was allowed to go to Starbucks, but he couldn’t order Chai or Frapuccino. The toughest part was listening to Boys II Men CDs, and eating a lot of high carb foods. He concludes: “If I had been a teen-ager in 1992 I would have been really challenged to find alternative ways to keep my life interesting, stay thin, and communicate with my peers….I’m so grateful to live in 2005!:)”.
The common wisdom is that the pace of change is accelerating. I don’t doubt that the pace of life is accelerating. But I don’t think it would be so hard to go back twenty or thirty years. Even in the 70’s most of us had air conditioning, remote controlled television, and cable. What more do you need? Imagine trying to go from 1972 thirty years back to 1942 (before wide spread air conditioning and television), or from 1942 back to 1912 (before most people had automobiles and radios).
Common wisdom also reminds us that the more things change, the more they stay the same. This is Biblical wisdom as well:
That which has been is that which will be. And that which has been done is that which will be done. There is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one may say, “look at this, it is new”? Ecclesiastes 1.9-10
These “house” shows, when you watch them, reinforce this truth. People in 1900, 1814, and 1650 were looking for love and security, asking the essential questions Jesus identified in the Sermon on the Mount – what shall we eat? What shall we drink? How shall we clothe ourselves? (Matt 6.31).
Jesus says that’s not enough. God knows we need all these things already, Jesus says, “but Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” Solomon, way back in Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a cycle to life – a time to weep, a time to laugh etc… (Ecclesiastes 3.1ff), but that we have eternity in our hearts (v.11). God put it there, that yearning for Him and where he is. In Jesus, God answers that yearning. In Jesus, God welcomes us into Forever House.
In my Father’s house are many rooms….I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14.2-3
