Live Inspired Vlog 201: Still Standing

What a Rehabbed Home Can Teach Each of Us About Being Made New Again

Well good morning, my friends!

And welcome to Live Inspired with John O’Leary on this Wednesday morning.

I am thrilled to be with you on this morning, as I am every Wednesday when we check in together and begin the journey halfway through the week to make sure that we finish strong.

162

What does that number represent?

Well probably a whole lot of things, but one thing that I know that it represents is this…

162 is the amount of years that this home that I’m recording this little video with you today has been in existence.

I had a friend of ours swing by recently who wanted to write a little report on this house. She loved the idea that the construction of it began during the time that Abraham Lincoln was still alive.

She loved the fact that they began construction during the Civil War, which actually is pretty remarkable.

She loved the fact that it had been through a couple recessions, a couple great depressions, two World Wars, several real wars.

She loved asking me questions around the house that had been through a fire, that had been through some ups and downs, that people were born in this house, that people died in this house, that is far from perfect, but it’s still standing.

And it’s still here.

In going through this report with this student, it made me recognize that I also love older things.

I mean I used to be in construction, for those of you who know my backstory.

I love new homes, man. I love that when you shut a door, the door stays shut.

I love that if you reach for a window, the window opens up.

I love that they’re not necessarily drafty. That can be a beautiful thing.

I love that if you set an onion on a table in the kitchen, it won’t roll off because your house is built sideways.

So there are some beautiful things about a newer home.

And yet, I love old things.

And in particular, I love when they are redeemed.

I love when they are made to even better versions of themselves, whether it’s a home or a car or in your case and in mine today, my friends, our lives.

I think the idea of being made new again. It’s ultimately what the Christmas season is all about.

It’s what New Year’s is all about.

But this idea of new life, of new Advent, of the ability to become something tomorrow that we weren’t yesterday, this is an incredible gift.

And it’s a gift that is alive and well not only for the home builders and those who rehab among us, and those who take these old beat-down houses that have been around 16 decades and bring them back to life, but it’s an opportunity that we have on this Wednesday and tomorrow, Thursday, if we’re lucky enough to raise toward it.

That we can become better versions of ourselves.

So on this day, I had the opportunity to share with you not only this video, but a chance to learn about a podcast I recorded with Erin and Ben Napier.

They are part of Home Town. They are in Laurel, MS. They are two of the greatest people I’ve ever met.

They’re great with their construction, and their minds, and their eyes, and their vision, but more than that, they just have this profound love for one another.

Profound love for their country, for construction, and for making things new.

We have a great conversation around HGTV, around television, around homes, around construction, around design, but more than that, it’s a conversation around life.

And if you would like to learn a little bit more around making your life new again and the beauty that is alive and well within it still today, I encourage you today, maybe even right now, to check out Live Inspired with John O’Leary, the podcast with Erin and Ben.

You’re going to love it!

It’s going to make you recognize that in spite of some difficulties, that the best is yet to come.

My friends, it’s hard for us to open up windows in this house.

When you set things on the counter, they frequently will just roll right off.

The doors never stay shut, in particular when there are four kids running around.

But this home is strong. The foundation is tough.

And it is sturdy.

And I think it represents what is true in all of our lives:

Far from perfect, but the best is in front of us.

I wish you a wonderful week and a great movement into not only the Christmas season, but into the start of the year in front of us.

So for this time and until next time, this is John O’Leary.

And this is your day.

Build it strong, build it tough, build it right.

This is your day. Live Inspired.

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