THIS is Nashville

By now most have seen pictures of the flood in Nashville and the damage that was done. But it has been a week and a half. The waters have receded. What does Nashville look like now? These are some pictures I have pulled from my friends’ Facebook pages of their homes or those of people they know. This is what Nashville looks like now.
What you will see in these pictures is people helping people, people who are under no obligation showing up to help others, in some cases people they don’t even know. What you will not see is anyone sitting around, feeling sorry for themselves, waiting for the government to come in and help them. You will not see policemen patrolling neighborhoods, guarding against looters or others who may take advantage of those in bad situations. (While these things may exist on a small scale, they are definitely the exception rather than the rule.) Nashville has been an example of what a community should be. People have pulled together to help tear down and rebuild, provide housing for people and pets who have lost their homes, bring food and water to workers, donate clothing, furniture and other necessities to those who have lost them, and encourage and pray for others. Churches have taken up collections for their members and others in the community. For some, it has been a lesson in swallowing their pride and graciously receiving the help offered by others.
In the days during and following the flood, people who owned boats went around rescuing people or bringing them supplies. Neighbors went into houses to save pets and other priceless items when the owners couldn’t get there. One man on his jet ski even saved a woman and her dog from their burning home that was surrounded by water. I am proud of my city. I am proud of their old-fashioned values. I am proud of the way they have pulled together and been an example to the country and the world of how we can help our family, friends and neighbors in need. I don’t watch much TV, so I don’t really know how the national media is portraying us. I can only hope that, if we’re getting any attention at all, they are showing the spirit of camaraderie that is here. But whether or not the media or the government decides to help us, we’re pulling together and making it happen.