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April 7, 2016

Title: A Fixer Upper Project of the Heart
Topic: Fixer Upper for the Heart

Discussed by Dr. Lisa Hosack
with Center for Vision and Values (www.VisionAndValues.org)

Part 1 of 2

Why do so many people love The Fixer Upper Project with Chip and Joanna Gaines? Why is it so compelling and relatable to millions of people? After all, it’s just another TV show about two people buying old houses and making them new again. Or is it…?

New guest Dr. Lisa Hosack, with the Center for Vision and Values at Grove City College, is admittedly a fan of the show. She says, “The relationship between Chip and Joanna is obviously a very warm and affectionate one. I think what it taps into is something in the viewer that really longs for that level of connection and intimacy with others.”

We all long for a “good life”. Chip and Joanna seem to have it all. All marriages have their issues, and I’m sure theirs is no different. However, Dr. Hosack, being an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Social Work, can spot a “fake couple” a mile away. Chip and Joanna do not fit that mold. Dr. Hosack says, “Our culture, in many different ways, offers ‘cultural liturgies’. They offer us something that the heart is looking for. Sometimes that can help us understand why we attach to something deeply.” Listen in as Dr. Hosack discusses this show really connects with people of different levels.

Many of Chip and Joanna’s home renovations feature a new “open space” concept, allowing home owners to entertain with ease. This “open space” perception in a home flows into our daily lives. In this modern day, even with all our fancy technology, we still feel so “disconnected” to our family and friends. As a sociologist, she says: “There is a real deep longing for community connection.” She will explain more in the second segment, so listen in!

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Title: Part 2 of 2 - A Fixer Upper Project of the Heart
Topic: Fixer Upper for the Heart

Discussed by Dr. Lisa Hosack
with Center for Vision and Values (www.VisionAndValues.org)

Do you know who your neighbors are? Not just their first name and if they have kids or not. Do you really know them? What about the members of your Bible study or Sunday School class? How many times have you invited a couple or two over for a game night?

We all long for community and to connect with those around us. That is why “The Fixer Upper Project” is so popular among all ages, from kids to grandparents. Dr. Lisa Hosack says, “We’ve been hardwired for relationality. When those needs go untapped, that has implications for us.” One thing that people who participate in the TV show have in common is “relationship connectivity”.

Some people – too many people – are afraid to entertain in their homes, though, because it isn’t “magazine perfect”. Who cares? Dr. Hosack agrees that your home does not have to be perfect to have fun! Nobody really cares what your couch looks like or if you have a cobweb in the corner. You also don’t have to have “wide open spaces”. “The spirit of hospitality is all in the spirit, not in the physical space,” she believes.

More importantly, however, Dr. Hosack reminds us that we cannot obtain “the good life” overnight. In fact, if you’re looking for the “perfect life” stop looking! It doesn’t exist. Reaching any goal takes time and effort. It’s a “slow, tedious renovation of the heart and attitude”, she says. We must remember that we are loving another human being who has many flaws just like we do. Marriage takes time and effort.

Click here to read Dr. Lisa Hosack’s article, “A Fixer Upper Project of the Heart”.

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