Close to 500,000 lights! That's how many Jerry Ludy and his family have in their amazing display called the Ludy Christmas Lights Spectacular. He's our guest this week, on the "Run The Race" podcast that brings faith and fitness advice and inspiration that you can hear weekly if you subscribe to it.

After giving you a little taste of the movie "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," (4:38) our chat with Jerry Ludy starts with his family's Christmas lights display kicking off on Thanksgiving night, with some additions and surprises. They're back after taking a year off during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(7:49) He talks about how and why this turned into a passion and extreme hobby for him, started at age 12. He says it's not about the lights, but about the memories they create and definitely to promote that Jesus is the true light of the world. A nativity scene is the centerpiece of their massive holiday display that draws big crowds, like 2,000 cars per night on the weeks leading up to Christmas.

This is an intricate DIY project, (10:55) that takes a lot of work, so they start setting up in August! There are some tricks he's learned along the way, including uncooperative technology. They also got national attention being on the ABC show the Great Christmas Light Fight in 2014.

(15:18) They also do this for higher causes: the reason for the season of Jesus, and they've also raised a total of $170,000 over the last 12 years for Make-A-Wish Georgia. How excited are people for the Ludy Lights this year after they went dark in 2020? Jerry and his son Keith, the chief engineers, are back hard at work, getting the display ready and coordinating them to music.

(22:03) Putting up all those lights can be fitness or a workout, dangerous too being on the roof, but the injuries or pain they've mostly experienced is electrical shocks. (26:20) Jerry hopes the Ludy Christmas Lights Spectacular bring people excitement, joy, and close together after all we've been through during the coronavirus pandemic. His wife allows him to do it too, for now.

There are lot of other Christmas light displays too, (29:24) so stealing ideas is part of it, but Jerry likes to be creative, like with a unique ski lift in their display and a just-added 30 foot high ferris wheel they constructed. (36:40) Stuck in my head segment: hear me singing "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," appropriate, then "Parting Gift" inspiration and a closing prayer.

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