A Sunday of Soul Searching and Reality Checks
It was a quiet Sunday afternoon, and I decided to fill my day with television that would both uplift my spirit and challenge my mind. First on my watchlist was Oprah’s Soul Sunday, a weekly dose of wisdom and reflection.
That day’s takeaway struck me deeply a line from Gary Zukav defining a spiritual partnership as “a partnership between equals for the purpose of spiritual growth.” It reminded me of the human connections that shape our purpose, even amid life’s challenges.
Then came my second choice for the evening something thought-provoking and entertaining. I locked in to Showtime’s “House of Lies.” Within hours, I found myself completely engrossed, binge-watching all twelve episodes of the first season.
When Art Imitates Life
“House of Lies” is a masterful dive into the seductive and ruthless world of management consulting a space I once knew well.
As a former Deloitte Project Coordinator, I couldn’t help but smile (and wince) at how accurately the show captured the corporate jargon, the boardroom politics, and yes the “beached” effect. In consulting language, to be beached means you’re off a project and dangerously close to being “let go.”
In one particular episode, the Principal of Marty’s son’s school reveals she once worked at Deloitte and sees right through his manipulation tactics. That moment hit close to home. The line between fiction and my own professional reality blurred.
I wasn’t watching art anymore I was living it.
The Real House of Lies: The Housing Market Meltdown
The first episode of “House of Lies” tackled a subject that was far from entertainment for me the U.S. foreclosure crisis.
It was painfully personal.
In October 1998, I purchased my home in Rockville, Maryland (20853). Over the years, I poured more than $100,000 into renovations, love, and labor. It wasn’t just a house it was a dream realized.
Then came 2008, the financial crash, and the ensuing wave of foreclosures. By October 2009, I had lost my home.
The bank that held my mortgage, IndyMac, declared insolvency. It was later rebranded as One West Bank one of many institutions that benefited from the government bailout protections under the Obama Administration.
Despite receiving aid and posting profits, One West refused to participate in the February 2013 national mortgage settlement payout the program meant to provide restitution to homeowners like me.
Meanwhile, corporate executives, shareholders, and consulting firms continued to thrive. Bonuses were paid. Profits rose. And yet, for those of us who lost everything, there was no restitution only silence and memories.
A System That Rewards the Wrong Players
Watching “House of Lies” was like reopening an old wound. The show’s portrayal of corporate greed wasn’t exaggerated; it was accurate.
The truth is, those who caused the crisis walked away richer, while everyday homeowners the backbone of America were left to pick up the pieces.
The bailout money meant to stabilize the economy ended up reinforcing the very structures that caused the collapse. The consultants got their contracts. The banks got their bonuses. The lobbyists got their influence.
And people like me?
We got foreclosure papers.
My Takeaway
As I sat reflecting on the episode, one truth became impossible to ignore:
In the wake of crisis, justice rarely trickles down but greed always floats to the top.
“House of Lies,” beneath its glitz and chaos, reminded me that there are real lives behind the statistics. Real families, real losses, and real stories that don’t make the news.
While the show was entertainment for many, it was a mirror for me reflecting a chapter of my life where faith, resilience, and hard lessons collided.
Final Thought
I continue to rebuild slowly, steadily, and spiritually. I’ve learned that while corporations may count profits, we count lessons. And mine is this:
The true measure of success isn’t what we keep, but what we survive.
Watch the episode that inspired this reflection:
House of Lies Season 1, Episode 1 (Showtime)
#HousingCrisis #ForeclosureStories #HouseOfLies #FinancialJustice #CorporateGreed #EconomicRecovery
