Extreme Makeover: Spiritual Edition

We all experience periodic changes in our personal lives, even some that seem cataclysmic—grief, illness, heartbreak, financial emergencies. At the same time, many countries and societies are experiencing tremendous change at a rapid pace, even upheaval.

Whenever you are confronted with major change, know that from a spiritual perspective, nothing is ending. Think of it as remodeling. Tearing down the old is necessary to build something new and different, and remodeling can be messy. But messiness is a necessary phase of the process. 

I am reminded of the TV show, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, and its sequence of events. It’s the perfect metaphor for how we can weather change when we release it to the energy of the Divine.

1. A dream team of workers with various skills responds to calls from a family in distress.
2. The team meets with the family in its present home environment to assess needs.
3. The team gets busy drafting new ideas based on the desires, gifts, and talents of each family member, especially those with special needs.
4. The family relocates temporarily. The happiest families don’t watch every step of the process or try to interfere; they trust the dream team.
5. A demolition crew tears down the old and removes debris to make way for the new. Everything that no longer serves a purpose is removed.
6. Remodeling often contains a few surprises—unexpected problems or unintended consequences. But they are eventually worked out in creative ways.
7. When the work is complete, the community celebrates the new home with the team and family. Often the family is awed by how their desires have been manifested in better ways than they imagined.

During this entire process, the family puts total trust in the work team. They power through the upheaval because they have faith that their needs are being acknowledged and magnificently supplied. The temporary mess is part of their answered prayers. 

The changes in our lives and world impact some more than others. The messy demolition process can be frightening if it means losing homes, jobs, and even being put in life-or-death situations. But we have a divine dream team. 

Rather than becoming paralyzed by fear, we remember that fear is simply False Evidence Appearing Real. Truth admonishes us to “Be not afraid.” Just as the desires and prayers of the families are noticed and answered in a home makeover, our prayers and questions are being answered in times of upheaval as we seek to distinguish between what is false (needs to be demolished) and what is real (needs to be built up).

The answers come with the realization that it is unwise “to put new wine” (the vitality of life; divine ideas) “into old wineskins” (old ways of thinking) (Matthew 9:17). Only the mind of Christ—the divine energy within each of us—can lift us from the old and transform us into the new. We enhance our transformation process by being conscious of our inner thoughts, spoken words, and actions.  

We can find spiritual messages anywhere, and the Extreme Makeover show provides helpful reminders for each stage of our personal remodeling: 

1. Work with what you have at present, lovingly and with gratitude.
2. Forgive yourself and others in all things—this keeps the debris removed.
3. Take time for denials (tearing down false beliefs) and affirmations (building up in Truth). Speak them firmly and with feeling.
4. Turn to the Christ within and release every care. Know that a master builder orchestrates your life. Only your need to control creates static and inhibits the makeover process.
5. Relax and breathe deeply while realizing the Holy Spirit moves in and through you, giving and sustaining life.

Therefore, do not fear. Trust God!