Remodeled

by Berry D Simpson

Not sure if you’ve noticed this, but I don’t need a lot of change in my
life. For example, I just bought a pickup and gave my old one to my son. The
new truck is a red Toyota Tacoma, exactly like my first one except newer and
with fewer miles. My pens and books and tie-down ropes and fleece jackets (for
Cyndi) all fit in exactly the same places. A new truck exactly like my old
truck … made me very happy. Like I said, I don’t need a lot of change.

Another example? I tend to leave things alone. I’ve never done much
remodeling in the places where I live. I might become obsessive while designing
a space, going over the details and options for way too long, but once the
space is built and I’ve moved in, I’ happy to leave it as it is from now on. That’s
true for houses, my work space and desk, my closet, my pickup, and true for my
yard and landscaping.

It isn’t that I am afraid of the process. I built a wall in our garage
in Brownfield, creating a nice utility room, and I built a wall and changed
closets in our house on Whittle Way, providing more useful space for both Byron
and Katie. But that’s about it for home remodeling. I haven’t needed or wanted
to change anything else.

Regarding landscaping, I’ve only changed our yard once, when we replaced
turf grass with ground cover in 1998. I suppose I did recreate our back yard
once, but that was more recovery than remodeling since our pet rabbits ate all
the grass down to the dirt and we had to start over.

All that is to say, I like things, in general, the way they are. Which
is usually the same as the way they were.

However, I’ve also learned to embrace the energy that change brings.
For me, one of the joys of aging is that I don’t resist change as much as I
used to. I may not initiate it, but I look forward to it. I’ve finally grown up
enough that I like to try new things and learn new skills and new ideas. I
don’t want to become that cranky “you kids get off my lawn” guy.

Granted, my personal vision of life change is mostly made up of
slightly newer versions of what I am already doing. Nothing radical. I’m hardly
an early-adopter. And certainly, I don’t make changes simply for the purpose of
changing. I need a better reason than that.

But even the few things I’ve changed aren’t such a big deal. Living
space is just wood and concrete, landscaping is just plants and trees, new
exercise programs are just more opportunities to sweat and buy new gear.

The reason I’m writing about something I don’t do much of, is, the
title of my next book, which should be out this fall, will be Remodeled: Stories from a Changed Heart.
Because of the title, I have been playing around with the notion of remodeling.
And the remodeling I’m most concerned with is the reshaping of my heart.

Each time I tell my story to the guys, something I do a half dozen
times a year, I’m more aware of how Jesus has remodeled my heart, making it
into his home. Not with hammer, nails, or sheetrock and paint, but with
adventures and tragedies and writing and teaching. And with Cyndi. The biggest
tool Jesus has for remodeling my heart into his image is the influence of Cyndi
living alongside me.

In fact, I’ve changed more than I thought I needed to. Having grown up
in church among a devout and faithful Christian family, I assumed if my heart
needed changing it would be only small increments. I never figured I’d need serious
remodeling.

This week I noticed the remodeling project going on at the Burger King restaurant on
Andrews Highway
in Midland. Have you seen it? The sign out front says “Closed
for remodel,” but all that is left of the original structure is a pile of
broken concrete. They are remodeling the building all the way down to the dirt,
stretching the word “remodel” way beyond its original meaning.

Is that how Jesus remodels our hearts? While we are cruising along
through life thinking all we need is a small touch-up, does Jesus notice our
foundation is shot and he has to start over from scratch? I don’t know if it
always has to be that severe, but I’m sure I wouldn’t change at all if Jesus
didn’t make it happen.

So here is my challenge. Ask Jesus to remodel your heart into his
image. Give him access to all your hidden closets and attic space and
landscaping. Know that it will be messy and dusty and, like all remodeling
projects, take longer than you expected. Trust that in the process of being
changed his grace will flow through you into the lives of your family and
friends. Be brave. Embrace the change.

“I run in the path of Your
commands, for You have set my heart free.” Psalm 119:32

Journal Entry 083012: Remodeled