Carpe Diem.  Have you heard this before?  This phrase stuck to my heart when I watched one of the home renovation shows.  It means “seize the day”.  There was a couple who purchased a home with dreams of renovating it to make it their own.  The husband was stricken with an illness so serious they were not sure he would survive.  In order to save his life, the surgeons took an eye.  They now live with gratitude for life as it comes. Everything now,  great or small they see as a gift. 

     As the trials and chaos of the renovation unfold, the team is constantly reminded of the heart of this family.  How it took the reality of a nearly fatal illness to see life as a gift and how appreciative they are just to have the family together. On top of that,  getting to pursue the dream of renovating their home.

     I loved seeing the teams desires to find a way to give something to this family in recognition of their all they have overcome, especially the gratitude for life together.

     The designer came up with the idea of craving the words “carpe diem” into the floor right at the entry for all to see.

     Needless to say, the family was forever touched.  But the designer also felt everyone who enters will see it.  Think about that. The gift of life for the family, the gift of the designer to carve it into the entry to greet all you enter.

     Can you imagine the conversations?  I suspect you will not only have the story of this family, but it will include the team who put it there and I know from personal experience, others will begin to share their stories of trials, the journey thru them and the deeply toughing outcome of appreciation for the life they have, not matter what may have been lost along the way.

     Is this like Paul?   2 Corinthians 12: 7b-10  NIV “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That for Christ’s sake, I delight in weakness, insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

    Do you see the parallel?  The stories in the bible are really not unlike ours today.  We all face trials throughout life.  They can take the form of physical, relational, financial,  or spiritual battles all difficult whether you are experiencing them personally or watching others go through them.

    It’s this “watching others” part that is what the bible exemplifies.  Parables and literally the life of Jesus are examples of how to live a focused, grateful life. He shows us we have a choice to live our lives in faith. To live above our circumstances. To know that no matter what may come, not matter what pain, be it to us or others, we have the chose to see the beauty out of the ashes.  And often seeing a beauty that is almost indescribable.  It’s something, something we can’t define or hold on to but yet are drawn too.  That passion to see, learning to live. Live as Christ  lived, love as he loves and open your eyes, even if you only have one. Be open to see and more importantly feel God’s love and allow others to see it through you.

   Carpe Diem! 

       Watch this episode of Fixer to Fabulous –Season 2 -E2 – A New Lease on Life. What was even more touching was that one of the crew members had also experienced the loss of an eye.  Can you see God’s hand even in a home renovation show?  What will people see as they enter your home?