by David Cassidy, Pastor at Christ Community Church,Franklin
As much as I love Franklin I have to confess that it would be pretty cool to be in Waco, Texas this weekend. Unless you’re a Baylor football fan – and I’m not – that might seem like a weird destination for a weekend excursion. There’s a group of TV show fans, however, arriving in number there today for a clearance sale at a smallish home decor place on Bosquet Boulevard. The show is HGTV’s “Fixer Upper”, hosted by Chip and Joanna Gaines, and the sale includes items they used in their show to stage the renovation projects they’ve tackled for their clients of their business called Magnolia Farms. I’ve seen some stuff I’d buy in a heartbeat.
“Fixer Upper”, a weekly show on Thursday nights, is entering its third season and is a massive hit. I’m a total addict myself. In certain respects the show’s popularity might be a little unexpected. It follows the typical home improvement/home search script: a client couple are shown three possible home destinations, choose one, and then the ‘talent’ take the place through a massive renovation leading to the anticipated teary climactic ‘big reveal’ at the end. What was once a dump is now a palace, the buyers are thrilled, and the viewers get a truckload of advertising to lure them into a big box to tackle a weekend DIY project. Along the way we get to see the backstory relationship between the talent contrasted with the often impatient anxiousness of the buyers. Its completely predictable.
Its exactly in the affinities with other shows, however, where “Fixer Upper” is different, and that difference is the relationship between Chip and Joanna Gaines. We see – on TV – a deeply loving, at times silly and humorous, always honoring couple working together at home and in their business life to serve people and their community by creating lasting beauty. Chip Gaines is a serious business man but clearly enjoys his ‘just one of the boys’ approach to life; he’s a talented guy who takes the work seriously, but without taking himself too seriously. Joanna is his lovely wife, immensely gifted with talent for interior design in her own unique country chic style. Its all about the shiplap. She loves and respects her husband, but is no doormat; he adores her, but is no weakling. Together with their goats and chickens and kiddos, Chip and Joanna live on a spacious but simple farm outside Waco, and they invite us in for cupcakes and design ideas every week. Its a good way to spend a Thursday evening.
The Waco Chamber owes them a bunch, as does every antique store in Williamson County. In fact, we can all say thanks to HGTV for giving back to us a TV family that we can watch and celebrate. That’s the difference. Tragically the shine is off the Cosby apple, and I can’t think of any ‘family’ shows I’d watch that speak to me the way this show does.
We all still need inspiration for our projects, but the magnetism of “Fixer Upper” runs deeper. I’m mechanically dyslexic – if you see me coming with wearing a tool belt, run away. The show’s attraction is rooted in the reality show of our hearts: my whole life is a fixer upper. I’m the disaster. I’m the dilapidated, outdated, storm damaged mess in need of an engineered beam, new wiring, and the love that fills a life with new creations, repurposing what others throw away into something beautiful and attractive. Is there hope for me? Yes. That’s the Gospel according to Fixer Upper, and its true.
The big reveal with the tears of joy is part of our story too, and it’s called the Resurrection; that day is coming, and ‘what a day of rejoicing that will be’. Until then the work goes on in our souls, and all of the new plumbing, cabinets, and lights, and all of the new furnishings, flooring, and front porches will in the end unveil the ultimate reality that God knew what he was doing all along.
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