Picture from East Nashville by Brian Mansfield

I don’t usually write blogs in the first person, but this one is a bit closer to home, and I couldn’t figure out how to write it any other way.

At about 9pm on Monday, March 2nd I was sitting on the couch at my friend’s house stressing because I had to finish a blog about an upcoming event … Little did I know, later that night I would be lying sleepless on my kitchen floor, because that was the place with the least windows, as the tornado sirens blared around me and my phone buzzed with an Emergency Alert.

Many were left with nothing after that night. And others woke untouched and left full of conflicting emotions of thankfulness, confusion, anger, deep, deep sympathy, compassion and guilt.

The more I learned of the immense damage and lives affected, the more I found myself circling back to the question “How does a tornado decide?”

How does a tornado decide which roof to take and which to leave?

When to turn and who to make grieve?

When and where it will touch down,

and when to lift up off the ground?

How does it decide who to spare?

Does it even give a care?

There are some things we can’t comprehend,

But what really matters is in the end . . .

We live in this grand state of Tennessee,

and can each make a difference yes, you and me.

We will rebuild TOGETHER and it won’t be long,

before we show the world we are Tennessee strong!

It’s hard to process; to know what to do and what to think and feel right now.

It seems like there are “National Days” for everything these days. If there can be a “National Dress Up Your Pet Day,” I would like to declare this Saturday National Volunteer Day. Whether you’re Wrangling Weeds to help a native species thrive in their natural environment, or helping a neighbor or neighborhood pick up the pieces after a disaster, I encourage you to consider using some time this Saturday to volunteer.

If you do, considering using #TristarTribe so we can share and encourage others.

And here are a few great resources for helping Nashville, Mount Juliet, and Cookeville this Saturday and beyond: