Why We Ask: Our mission and operations are funded 100% by conservatives like you. Please help us continue to extend Liberty to the next generation and support the 2024 Year-End Campaign today.

March 31, 2016

A ‘Fixer Upper’ Project of the Heart

HGTV has captured the attention of millions of devoted followers with its widely popular, “Fixer Upper,” a show about Chip and Joanna Gaines, a cowboy carpenter and his naturally beautiful designer wife in Waco, Texas. Chip and Joanna turn their client’s “fixer upper” into a stunning showcase home by the end of the carefully scripted television hour. After a recent three-episode binge, I realized that, like many within my demographic group, I too was hooked and that the show was speaking to me in some way. Interestingly, the show’s concept isn’t particularly new; many may remember “Trading Spaces” (2000-2011), a show in which homeowners and designers had $1,000 and two days to transform a room in each other’s homes. No, the draw to “Fixer Upper” isn’t the format; it’s tapping into something far more significant within the inner lives of its viewers.

HGTV has captured the attention of millions of devoted followers with its widely popular “Fixer Upper,” a show about Chip and Joanna Gaines, a cowboy carpenter and his naturally beautiful designer wife in Waco, Texas. Chip and Joanna turn their client’s “fixer upper” into a stunning showcase home by the end of the carefully scripted television hour.

After a recent three-episode binge, I realized that, like many within my demographic group, I too was hooked and that the show was speaking to me in some way. Interestingly, the show’s concept isn’t particularly new; many may remember “Trading Spaces” (2000-2011), a show in which homeowners and designers had $1,000 and two days to transform a room in each other’s homes. No, the draw to “Fixer Upper” isn’t the format; it’s tapping into something far more significant within the inner lives of its viewers.

In his recently published book, “You Are What You Love,” James K. A. Smith writes about “cultural liturgies.” These are unspoken yet incredibly powerful narratives which offer us a view of what we’re ultimately looking for: the good life, if you will. He suggests that, as humans, we’re hardwired to love, but that our innate “loves” can easily and frequently get hooked to false narratives — ones that winsomely illustrate the good life, but lack the capacity to deliver what they promise.

To that end, “Fixer Upper” provides an incredibly compelling narrative of the good life — the dynamic of its success. The show speaks volumes about the innate human longing for intimacy. On display is an attractive and wholesome couple who treat each other with both respect and admiration. Particularly attractive to female viewers is Chip’s obvious adoration of his wife. While viewers seem obsessed to find out if the portrayal is authentic, they miss the point of the cultural narrative they’re being offered. The show tells a story about the deep human longing to be treated similarly, to be cherished by another. It may be safe to conclude that many viewers feel less than cherished in their close relationships or that they have no such relationships to speak of. The secondary experience of entering into the Gaines’ relationship provides a wanna-be narrative, a fantasy for the relationally discontented.

Beyond this, it’s commonplace for “Fixer Upper” clients to want to create open spaces in their new homes for “entertaining.” While a laudable goal, statistics clearly describe the ways that American families are typically socially isolated and devoid of meaningful community with others. We clearly long for community in our lives, yet rely upon superficial means of creating it.

The human heart longs for intimacy with others, yet creating the adoring spouse or the ideal physical space for such connections grossly misses the point. While we may long for a miraculous upheaval of our lives — for a “fixer upper” miracle, where the ugly in our lives is made beautiful — intimacy is never instantaneous nor easy. It’s the product of a thousand small decisions in the right direction, leaning toward love even when you feel unloved and uncherished. It means crafting a realistic narrative with treasured moments of intimacy with others, yet faithfully enduring equally through many contrasting moments of loneliness, disconnection, and miscommunication.

And hospitality is, of course, not qualitatively improved by the creation of a perfect entertaining space. In fact, true hospitality and intimacy with others may have little to do with the physical space. Indeed, the time I felt most welcomed by someone was within a home with a dirt floor and concrete block walls. It was all about the spirit of welcome and the sacrifice inherent in the meager meal, not the physical space.

“Fixer Upper” offers us a magical upgrade by transforming the ugly into something beautiful. I do not intend to discourage creating a physically beautiful home; this can be a source of great joy. But “Fixer Upper” fans like myself also should be aware that the show offers a compelling, even addictive, narrative that can ultimately disappoint and leave us more wanting and discontented. It can’t deliver on its promises to provide the deeper intimacy we crave.

What we long for in life is good and, I believe, attainable, but a quick fix won’t come close to delivering. No, the fixer-upper project of the heart entails a slow and tedious renovation effort, but properly directed, one that indeed reveals something lasting and beautiful.

Who We Are

The Patriot Post is a highly acclaimed weekday digest of news analysis, policy and opinion written from the heartland — as opposed to the MSM’s ubiquitous Beltway echo chambers — for grassroots leaders nationwide. More

What We Offer

On the Web

We provide solid conservative perspective on the most important issues, including analysis, opinion columns, headline summaries, memes, cartoons and much more.

Via Email

Choose our full-length Digest or our quick-reading Snapshot for a summary of important news. We also offer Cartoons & Memes on Monday and Alexander’s column on Wednesday.

Our Mission

The Patriot Post is steadfast in our mission to extend the endowment of Liberty to the next generation by advocating for individual rights and responsibilities, supporting the restoration of constitutional limits on government and the judiciary, and promoting free enterprise, national defense and traditional American values. We are a rock-solid conservative touchstone for the expanding ranks of grassroots Americans Patriots from all walks of life. Our mission and operation budgets are not financed by any political or special interest groups, and to protect our editorial integrity, we accept no advertising. We are sustained solely by you. Please support The Patriot Fund today!


The Patriot Post and Patriot Foundation Trust, in keeping with our Military Mission of Service to our uniformed service members and veterans, are proud to support and promote the National Medal of Honor Heritage Center, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, both the Honoring the Sacrifice and Warrior Freedom Service Dogs aiding wounded veterans, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the National Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, the Folds of Honor outreach, and Officer Christian Fellowship, the Air University Foundation, and Naval War College Foundation, and the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. "Greater love has no one than this, to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15:13)

★ PUBLIUS ★

“Our cause is noble; it is the cause of mankind!” —George Washington

Please join us in prayer for our nation — that righteous leaders would rise and prevail and we would be united as Americans. Pray also for the protection of our Military Patriots, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Please lift up your Patriot team and our mission to support and defend our Republic's Founding Principle of Liberty, that the fires of freedom would be ignited in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

The Patriot Post is protected speech, as enumerated in the First Amendment and enforced by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, in accordance with the endowed and unalienable Rights of All Mankind.

Copyright © 2024 The Patriot Post. All Rights Reserved.

The Patriot Post does not support Internet Explorer. We recommend installing the latest version of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, or Google Chrome.