Rain. Water, Fires. Devastation. Nashville, Somehow this does not all add up. When the weatherman said that Nashville had 100% chance of rain last weekend I was bummed...the picnic that we had planned was going to be ruined. The picnic ended up being the smallest part of the plan. The devastation that was to follow was depressing, sad, filled with community and love!
On Saturday and Sunday as the rains pelted from the skies I watched as my front yard filled up with pockets of water.
"Oh No! It is going to wash out my new grass seed." That was my biggest concern.
When the rains stopped, and I ventured outside of my door...what greeted me was more than my heart could take in.
Water, homes completely destroyed, spirits dampened, community gathering in shock.
Working with people to clean out their houses; amidst sewage, water, ticks, and more has been almost more than I can take in.
The community is what God had in mind. This has leveled the playing field and we are all one in Nashville. The millionaires are pumping out water for people they have never met, while everyone looks the same and smells the same. No one cares what anyone else does as they form assembly lines to get furniture and possessions out of houses waterlogged and filled with sludge.
Look around and you are destined to see people huddled in groups praying before they enter houses; homeowners and strangers hugging while one hangs on for dear life - and hope; tears streaming down faces as lives are thrown in the dumpster without any time to disconnect from the emotion.
Nashville will recover...and be stronger, closer, and more loving because of this unexpected, and cannot-be-prepared-for devastation. Years from now people here will be talking about the flood of 2010 - when love showed up at every house.
Nashville - community, caring, togetherness - the music continues!
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1 comment:
Beautifully written Sandy. An event such as this will change the lives of so many people and it will be up to them as to whether it is a positive or negative experience. You and those around you seem to be definitely using this as a positive, learning experience. Nicely done.
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