“A large portion of why we were being ignored [by the media] was that we weren’t doing anything to draw attention to ourselves. We were handling it on our own.”
-Anonymous Nashville Blogger, right after flood of 2010
Last week, Nashville was hit by a pretty substantial storm, devastating multiple communities primarily in Davidson and Wilson Counties. We were all reminded of our humanity as nature pulled apart our structures made of brick, iron, and steel like they were nothing more than play-doh. One thing I love about the Nashville community is that we believe in the power of small actions in times of crises, earning our nickname, The Volunteer State. My friends and church don’t sit at home thinking it’s not worth it because we don’t have large machinery, big numbers, or project organization. We put on gloves, borrow someone’s chainsaw, and get to work.
I am reminded how often we take the basics for granted. It sounds cliche, but you’ve probably heard me say before: it’s not cliche if put in context. Food, water, shelter, and connection are our needs, and they aren’t guaranteed. Housing is my business, and fortunately, everyone is okay as far as I know. However, many people lost everything, and there are parts of the city and outlying communities that are quite devastated.
If you’re looking for a place to plug in, my church, Legacy Nashville, is taking donations and pouring them directly into local relief efforts. They are also leading multiple groups in serving food and debris cleanup. Follow @legacynashville on Instagram for more info.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in this past week. We appreciate your care and concern. The only way out is through.
Always,
Syd Phil