Yep, happened to us again. We were the victims of a rogue Netflix queue, where an item “mysteriously” made its way onto the queue then ended up at the top, only to show up and have us look at each other and say, “Huh?”
Not the best movie but we watched it. We sat through it so we could at least tell ourselves it was maybe on purpose.
What to do when that happens:
Immediately check the queue to stop the cycle of bad
We moved half way across the country to find the way of life we wanted to live. I’m fairly certain we found exactly what we were looking for in our little corner of Franklin, TN. (How we got here, that’s a whole other story for another post.)
What we’ve found most is a strong sense of community. One that starts locally but because it’s also a state-of-mind, goes globally. And with today’s world being much smaller and more connected than ever – it’s possible for that sense of community to stretch much further to allow us to connect to people we’ll never directly meet. And we’re so fortunate to have found a church we can call home in Rolling Hills Community Church (RHCC) that acts with those local and global principles.
Over the past few weeks at RHCC, we’ve heard parables such as the good samaritan as part of a series on paying it forward. (yes, like the book/movement) The good samaritan reminded me of one reason for which I started this web site. Even though I wanted to write about my new son and family, I wanted to write about community. I’ve posted some links here and there but wanted to dive in deeper. I cannot help but think about how wonder-FULL it feels when I donate my time or money to a good cause…seeing what people can do for others in both small and large ways is a wondrous thing.
Something that crossed my mind recently – WATER.
This morning I was rinsing out a jar to put into the recycle bin because our service asks us to do it to cut down on smell. Then it hit me, I’m turning a faucet on in my air conditioned house to bring water directly to my sink so that I can rinse out trash. I definitely take for granted that I have access to water on demand when others in this world (1 in 6) don’t have access to clean drinking water at all. And for me, it’s not about feeling guilty or even worse, trying to justify it. It’s as simple as being thankful for what I have and wondering how I can help others get the same.
Here are some great sources of info on organizations that have clean water projects. Amazing what $10 or $25 can do. Helping to build a well somewhere can help in such simple ways. Such as letting school kids stay in school so they don’t have to go in shifts to the well twice a day to get water. Just crazy to think that goes on today.
I like the idea of giving a little to a lot of different causes to at least get a sense of what they’re all doing. It’s worth a $25 donation to start to understand just how broad an issue like water is and how interconnected it is to other projects such as disease prevention, education, and so many other what I’d personally call, basic rights causes. Then once you’ve taken the broad look, get behind a topic that interests you, one that you have some knowledge about or you can get behind an organization that best represents what you believe.
I just want to post a few organizations over time that are out there doing.
There comes a point when the size and scope of a distaster meets some social responsibility threshold to where the story merits consistant and prolonged national attention – more than the 2-3 minute segments between other stories. We’ve been on the Gulf oil spill for over a week. And that makes sense. The Nashville Flood is estimated to cost over $1 Billion in losses. It deserves the same attention. It devastated lives. It ruined homes and businesses. People are living in shelters with nothing to return to once the waters recede.
Photo by SeeMidTN.com
I am not asking for comparisons to other natural disasters as justification for media coverage. Katrina, Atlanta ’09, Iowa ’08 – all bad.
Here’s the thing, I’ve learned more through Facebook, Twitter and links from friends pointing to Middle TN sources than I have from national media outlets. I get that local media is more relevant but things this big need large-scale awareness. Awareness outside the affected area.
Here’s one big reason why the media needs to stay on the Nashville Flood – it brings in donations. It brings in volunteer efforts. Media = nation-sized support. It’s just that simple. When Katrina hit (a much larger disaster as far as loss of life) our family donated. We all donated. The whole country donated and are still donating. Same with the recent ‘quakes outside this country. There was national attention. There was national concern. And the nation responded.
Pride and a sense of community should have us standing tall and fixing things on our own but it shouldn’t keep us from asking for help. We can use it. So how do we get the media to recognize what’s going on in Nashville and surrounding areas and keep on this developing story?
Human interest? Cost of the recovery? Loss of life? Seeing national icons underwater? The amazing lives saved and acts of heroism? What’s it going to take?
At the least, media coverage and a national response gives us the comfort that we are all united. I’ve read a lot of blogs and facebook posts from locals lately and am impressed with how the community is responding for itself. But at the same time – folks just want to know that they’re story’s been heard.
We moved here because of the wonderful spirit of both the community and its people. All those that have been affected will rebound but they could use some help.
Below is a short video posted of what it’s been like in the low-lying areas of my town, Franklin.
Walking down Main Street with smells of BBQ and kettle corn filling the air. Great day to live in Franklin, TN.
We grabbed lunch under a shade tree with a couple of iced teas to keep us cool. Then browsed all the great local vendors lining the streets. (we may have found a new porch swing from one)
Just taking in the sites and people watching. They say 100K people will hit the festival – wouldn’t you know it, we run into friends of friends we’d just met a week back at a vineyard concert they performed at – for great music check out Art Four Sale.
Comments