Changing the World, One Nail at a Time
Meeting new people. New people from across the world. Volunteers. Executives. Contractors. Homeowners. All with their own talents. All with their own reason to be in Memphis. All with their own unique story. To have the opportunity to tell my story and hear their stories was a blessing. Story telling that led to new friendships. Friendships that can last a lifetime. That was my favorite part of my trip to Memphis. Meeting new people. Sharing stories. Creating friendships. Changing the world, one nail at a time.
What struck me most about President and Mrs. Carter was not what they said, but what they did. At 92 and 89, they were the ones setting the pace. They were the ones to keep up with. They were the ones keeping us on track. They would not stop. Even when the heat index was above 100 degrees, they would not stop. When the rain was coming down, they would not stop. We joked on site throughout the week, "When is break time over?" The response was always, "When the Carters say it is." I think this perfectly encapsulates their work ethic. They were always working. Always hammering the next nail, drilling the next screw. To see a man and a woman who once occupied the most powerful house in the world displaying the purest form of servant leadership had a profound impact on me.
President and Mrs. Carter were not the only stars working on my father and my house. We also had the opportunity to build with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood. At one point during the week, the Carters, Garth, and Trisha all took a picture together. President Carter commented, "Wow! It's really cool to take a picture with famous people." This modesty. This humbleness. This comment. This man. A man who led a country, inspires many, and changes the lives of thousands of homeowners around the world. A man who doesn't realize his own fame. This is the man I had the pleasure of building side by side with for a week in Memphis, Tennessee. What a pleasure. What an honor. What an experience. An experience that has changed my life forever.
- Taylor's extraordinary opportunity was featured on KXAN, click here to watch.
Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity's Carter Work Project blog
