Life As It Is and Could Be

What TV shows did you watch as a kid?

There were three notable shows that immediately come to mind from my childhood. The first was Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, a show about nature and the realities of animals. I remember looking forward to the show weekly even when it was a repeat. Marlin Perkins and Jim Fowler were the host and co-host and they narrated the filming of animals in nature. I was fascinated and it was a wonderful shared experience with my Dad and my brother, Tom. There were moments it felt a little too real for me; I was not well acquainted yet with the “circle of life.” Heck, it would be my later elementary years before I realized the meat and vegetables we ate came from somewhere before than the grocery store! I loved the views of different places and the beautiful animals caught in “action” candidly in nature.

The second show that I vividly remember and that emerged in my childhood was Sesame Street. The muppets and people we vibrant colors and found ways to creatively cooperate, have fun, and reinforce teaching me counting and letters. It was also my first exposure to practical jokes between Ernie and Bert, especially of Ernie joking Bert. They were so different and yet found ways to get along and be friends. There were all kinds of folks/muppets on the show and their idiosyncrasies made each lovable in different ways. I am thankful for the modeling of relationship and passive/active learning I received from the show. It didn’t hurt that is was fun and entertaining to watch!

The final show from my childhood that stands out is Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. This show did not have the “high” production cost of a Wild Kingdom or Sesame Street; it did have constant reminders of each person’s unique and special nature. Mister Rogers told me over and over again that I am special, that I matter, and that there is a place in the “neighborhood” for me! To this day, my understanding of spirituality, theology, and acceptance flow from the messages I internalized from Mister Rogers. As much as some still caricature his intentionality and mannerisms, he taught me that everyone matters, that everyone is a gift. That is a lesson that seems sorely lacking in the world I see today.

I am grateful for these shows that really shaped my childhood and my adult worldview. The world is real and practical and sometimes brutal as I learned in Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom. The world is filled will beauty and diversity as my friends on Sesame Street taught me. Everyone is a gift and special just as they are (including me!) a my “personal” friend Mister Rogers reminded me over and over again. I am me in part because of each of these; what a gift they are.