There is something voyeuristic in us. Human beings are naturally curious and nosy. And, it seems to me, it's easy for us to become fascinated watching people struggle and suffer. Shakespeare knew that. So do the producers of reality TV. Do you know reality TV? Those are the shows where they set some ordinary, non-celebrity people in un-ordinary circumstances and we watch them struggle. Some of it is pretty crass -- seeing how people will risk, endure, hurt, lie, and just be gross for money. But there are some reality shows that have a different feeling. As you might imagine, I like Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. Five talented and creative gay guys come and help some fairly clueless straight guy better express his love and dreams and hopes. It's a show that usually celebrates life, love, family and friendship in a jubilant and playful way.

I happened to catch a compelling episode of a reality show called Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on ABC. A 14-year old boy Stefan Vardon wrote a school essay about his family. His parents are both deaf and his 12-year-old brother Lance is blind and autistic. Stefan was the family communicator. "I always have to sign to my parents in order to communicate," he wrote, "and always talk nicely to my brother for him to understand. I am so used to this life, it's just that sometimes I wish I had a normal family and didn't live this way. But the next day I am so happy that I have a loving family that treats me nice and loves me." One of the stresses for the family is that occasionally Lance had found ways to leave the house and wander into the street, a dangerous place for a blind and autistic child.

The Extreme Makeover team transformed the Vardon's ordinary 980-square-foot house into a dream home outfitted with the latest communications and safety devices for people with hearing loss. The designers installed camera monitors and visual alarms for the parents to account for Lance. They filled Lance's room with tactile things to stimulate and entertain him, and they built an enormous swing for his favorite activity. A tool shop for dad and fabric work-room for mom. Finally, neighbors gathered for the last scene when academy award winning deaf actress Marlee Matlin surprised Stefan, presenting him with a four-year full-scholarship to college. In the background, Lance was swinging to the sky, laughing and moaning. Happiness abounded. Guaranteed to make you blubber.

Like all of the "makeover shows," this was a dramatic "before-and-after" story. Before -- limited communication and potential danger. After -- amazing tools for safety and communications, and a new future for all. But even with all of that, the Vardon parents and Lance will continue to live with their physical challenges. And, as any student here could tell him, Stefan will still have deadlines for papers and semester exams. They are all still the same people. But after the makeover, things truly are different for them.

Today's story in First Samuel tells of a makeover that will change David the shepherd boy. Out of the blue he is anointed by the prophet. His life will never be the same. Oh, the next day, he returned to the sheep. But ahead of him, we know, is Goliath, his alliance and conflict with Saul, desperate days of running and hiding, and eventually military success and a royal throne..., and Bathsheba. It's a checkered story of ups and downs, failure and success. But on the day he was anointed by Samuel, everything changed. David knew he had been blessed and chosen. Whatever may come, he knew he was beloved of God. And with that identity at the core of his being, he lived his life with creative confidence and courage.

In our story from John's gospel we hear another tale of "before-and-after." A man born blind follows Jesus' command to "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam," and he is healed. He can see. But it's more complicated than that. It was the Sabbath. For Jesus to manufacture mud and spread it on the blind man's eyes was a violation of the fourth of the Ten Commandments, "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy." There are six other days in the week to do such work. Caught in the middle of the conflict is the man who can now see. He is excommunicated from the fellowship of the synagogue.

His life has changed. He was blind, but now he sees. He used to beg, but now he will have to get a job like everybody else. And he's been banished from the synagogue, but he has something else. Notice how his understanding and relationship with Jesus develops through this story. He starts by recounting the facts, "This man called Jesus made mud..." Then, he finds a certain courage to stand up to the authorities and declare, "Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." Finally, he speaks personally with Jesus, "Who is this Son of Man?" "You have seen him," says Jesus. "Lord, I believe." And then he makes an incredible leap of faith, connecting Jesus with the very presence and being of God. The text says, "And he worshiped him." Not even the disciples had come to such a place of knowing. This blind man could see what others couldn't.

From now on, whether coping with small-town life in exile from the religious community or just job hunting, he was changed. He knew he had been anointed and blessed. And he knew the source of his blessing was God. After this, he was different -- everything had changed.

Before and after. The anointing and healing of God. That's part of what we come here each week to remember and celebrate. You have been changed. You have been anointed. You have been healed.

There was a before time. When you felt like you had to earn your place. Or you believed your acceptance was qualified in some way -- by your thoughts or your deeds. Or maybe your very being seemed under scrutiny. There was a time when you were in bondage to the mixed messages you grew up with, both good and bad; messages you received from your family, your peers, your culture and environment. Maybe at times you felt lost or alienated. Not even knowing quite who you were or what you should be. You carried guilt. Some regrets just seemed to stick to you. You looked around at all of the suffering and turmoil of life and wondered in despair where it was all going. That was the before time.

But now is the after time. After the life and resurrection of Jesus, you know: you are anointed; you are beloved, accepted and healed. You don't have to do anything to earn your place. You are loved. You are accepted, and that acceptance is unqualified and absolute. It is from God. You can let go of all of the mixed messages you've heard and re-orient yourself with the simple purpose to love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. And everyone is your neighbor, especially the person in need. Since you don't have to earn your place in life, you are free. You can breathe. There is no way you can be lost, for God is everywhere. Guilt lasts just as long as it takes to say "I'm sorry." You can be at peace. And you can entrust this entire wounded world to the wounded healer, letting God do the divine work of bringing life from death and wholeness from brokenness. Then, from time to time as God presents opportunities to you, you can participate with God in the divine work of healing and reconciling the world. As Ephesians reminds us, "For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light." We've each been given an extreme makeover.

That's what we gather to renew here every Sunday. We remind ourselves of the gift that is ours. We hear the words of blessing. We open our hands and receive bread of divine life. We open our mouths and receive the cup of salvation.

Being loved, anointed, and blessed by God is that easy. But we have to be reminded. That's why we come back here over and over.

Some of us knew that whole story in a moment of blinding light. For most of us though, it's a gradual process of seeing more and more, like the blind man in John's gospel. With time, we embrace more and more of the blessing that is ours. And however we are changed and blessed and healed, we know that we always go back to the same world we left, with all its challenges and confusions and suffering.

But we are different. We are God's beloved children. God sends us blessing, anointing, and healing. It is enough. It was enough for David through all his ups and downs. It will be enough for us as well.

As we come to this table where we reenact the story of our blessing, let a prayer of thanksgiving be on your lips; maybe the prayer originally attributed to David can be your words too: "You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."