Extreme Makeover

Although I am not a regular viewer, the idea behind “Extreme Makeover” is that they take an old house and completely restore it then give it to a deserving family. The show’s success is due not only to the extreme nature of what they do to the old place, but also to the joy it gives to others.

I recently heard of one such house in the Orlando area. Like all the others, the starting point was nothing but a shack, but through enormous creativity, money, and effort, the shack was transformed into a remarkable home. It was an extreme makeover celebrated by everyone involved, but when a friend was recently driven by the home she was shocked by what she found: the lawn was overgrown, part of the siding removed, and three windows were broken. “The neighborhood took it back,” said the woman driving the car. The moment was sad on countless levels, but it also speaks to our lives and the various “neighborhoods” that want to take them back. 

I recently attended a weekend-long retreat designed to awaken participants to the possibilities of life and many new ways to think, talk, and act. It was inspirational and caused many of us to leave with a renewed sense of optimism. I passed the hotel where the retreat took place on my way to work this morning and wondered what I could do to keep the “neighborhood” from taking back my new optimism.

One of the great blessings of life is that it offers new chapters and moments of renewed joy. Whether a new job, an honest conversation with a friend, a decision to get in shape or follow a spiritual path anew, we often find ourselves excited by possibilities. The home in Orlando, however, is a vivid reminder that no matter how extreme the makeover, the old neighborhood will want us back. We must remain awake and vigilant if we are to keep that from happening.

Walking into work this morning, there was ample evidence that the lawn had grown and a shingle had become loose over the weekend. Instead of panicking, or responding in my old way, I got the lawnmower and screwdriver out. The old neighborhood is no longer welcome.

(If you would like an extreme makeover, please explore: www.landmarkworldwide.com)