West Asheville, NC – Sept. 1, 2025

 In 2016 Carrie Newcomer released the album “The Beautiful Not Yet” which contained the song “You Can Do This Hard Thing.” By that time Newcomer was a well established poet – singer – songwriter whose words and music carried a listener’s thoughts to new vistas of life. This song described the ordeals of dealing with difficult times and tasks. Like most, I have encountered some difficult tasks over my 76 years. As the title of the song reveals, there has always been some person, some Holy voice that whispers in my ear, “You can do this.” 

There at the table With my head in my hands 

A column of numbers I just did not understand 

You said add these together Carry the two now you 

You can do this hard thing You can do this hard thing 

It’s not easy I know but I believe that it’s so 

You can do this hard thing 

When asked last March to come to Asheville, NC to oversee the refurbishment of the former West Asheville Presbyterian Church building into an MDS volunteer center, Laura and I had no real understanding of what that effort would look like. The scope of the project was hard to get my brain around. The numbers for costs and square feet of area to be transformed were well beyond what I was used to seeing in any MDS house. This was a journey into an unknown area for Laura and me. 

At a cold winter station Breathing into our gloves 

It would change me forever Leaving for God knows what 

You carried my bags You said I’ll wait for you 

You can do this hard thing You can do this hard thing 

It’s not easy I know but I believe that it’s so 

You can do this hard thing 

There have been many times during the effort when the only answer we received from the City of Asheville permitting office was “No.” Early one Friday morning, I received a phone call from our utility contractor. A baseless complaint from an unknown source had resulted in a stop work order. RSAA stepped in to resolve that complaint. Through each setback, through the partnership with RSAA and through much prayer, we heard the voice of encouragement that assured us this hard thing could be done. Eventually all the permits we needed were issued, as the City said “You can do this” You Can Do This Hard Thing – September 1, 2025 

Late at night I called And you answered the phone 

The worst it had happened And I did not want to be alone 

You quietly listened You said we’ll see this through 

You can do this hard thing You can do this hard thing 

It’s not easy I know but I believe that it’s so 

You can do this hard thing 

Today, as September greets us, many of the hardest things are nearing completion. By the end of this week, we will have installed more than 7,000 square feet of flooring and applied over 200 gallons of paint. Approximately 60 vintage light fixtures have been updated with LED bulbs that produce more stable light and use much less electricity. This past week, the installation of 16 mini-split HVAC units began, which will replace outdated electric base board heaters, resulting in even more energy savings. This week, for the first time, we will prepare meals in the partially finished kitchen and eat meals in the dining area. 

Here we stand breathless And pressed in hard times 

Hearts hung like laundry On backyard clothes lines 

Impossible just takes A little more time 

From the muddy ground Comes a green volunteer 

In a place we thought Barren new life appears 

Morning will come whistling Some comforting tune for you 

You can do this hard thing You can do this hard thing 

It’s not easy I know but I believe that it’s so 

You can do this hard thing 

Tomorrow we send out the first crew to begin repairs on a small house in Barnardsville, NC, about 30 minutes from the West Asheville MDS facility. More will go out in the months ahead. That does not mean all of the work at the Haywood Road building is complete, but one of the end goals for the project has been achieved. All of the local people who volunteered their time and volunteers from farther away have transformed this abandoned building. What happens from this time on is still in God’s hands. 

As Laura and I near our time to leave the remaining work to be directed by someone else, I trust they will continue to hear the same words that we have heard, “You Can Do This Hard Thing” 

From the MDS base on Haywood Road in West Asheville, NC 

Laura and Carl