I was just about to post my latest blog on how ‘saying no’ over a busy summer can be a mental life saver for moms, that nurturing and taking care of yourself from the inside out can do wonders for your lifestyle.
Then the world as we know it came to a literal stop in Calgary; massive flooding has wrecked havoc on our amazing city and surrounding area. On a Wednesday morning the rain started to pour, and by Thursday afternoon, we were well on our way to evacuating over one hundred thousand people. Some of them still remain out of home today, weeks later. The devastation is unbelievable, and no pictures or videos you see will ever do the reality of the situation justice.
Volunteering to help in this clean up will however help tremendously. So that’s what I did. I packed up my boots, six work gloves, and a handful of masks and went into the Mission/Erlton area of the city to help. What I came upon was ordered chaos. Neighborhood volunteers, their own homes destroyed, standing in Base Camp with white boards, phones and maps were directing any and all volunteers into the most impactful areas and homes. Our group had instructions on which homes needed the most help, so we moved in. But not before being handed one of a dozen muffins and a steaming hot coffee that other citizens had most generously brought in for donation.
Did I mention devastation? I was simply spell bound at the scene that confronted me—garbage, dirt, and debris were everywhere. Lawns were piled with furniture, toys, books, and photo albums. Just when I was about to shed a tear, a lovely lady with a child’s pull cart came around: Coffee? Sandwich? Cookie? She had brewed the coffee and made the sandwiches that morning. And she was on her way around the neighborhood to fill empty stomachs, in an attempt to fill empty hearts. Worked for me! One turkey bunwich down I was pretty optimistic that I could make a difference here. And our group did just that: slinging mud, tearing dry wall and really helping out these people that needed us so much. At our last stop several hours later, we were directed into a basement that was completely submerged and still had sticky mucky mud about two inches deep lurking around. Insulation was strewn all over and the one flickering lamp being powered by a generator gave me enough lighting to see the obliteration. And I stood. And I cried. And cried. A man on a ladder pulling insulation said, “You ok?” Shaking my head, I said that I just couldn’t believe that this happened to the owner and to our community. He laughed. <pause..What? Why are you laughing?> He said, “I am the owner.”
“And guess what? We are OK. We are here. We are healthy. And, we will rebuild”.
His words resonate with me right now. He, like so many others that lost their homes, have just found the resolve somewhere inside to move past this disaster and see the future in sight.
The optimism he showed me inspired me to share the experience with my son. I’ve always wanted to instill a great sense of stewardship and giving spirit to those around him. This was a perfect opportunity. He may only be fifteen-months-old, but I don’t believe it’s ever too early to show kindness. So that’s what we did last Friday night. He bought (no really, it was all his funds) two flats of ice cold beer, and we delivered it into the community of Bowness—another hard-hit area of the city. There, the police roadblock eagerly welcomed us in to deliver our cold ones. We found a small little gathering of people head to toe in mud, having finished a long hot day digging in and cleaning up the area. When a smiling toddler walked in with a cold one in hand, they were all smiles as well. One smile deserves another. He may not realize the gravity of his donation, but one day my son will know the true meaning of community.
Certainly, the support and community awareness surrounding everyone these days helps when the future ahead seems dark.
So, never underestimate the power of your community. Whether you are a parent or not, the power of those around you can really have a positive impact and strong influence on your life.
Ask for support. Then, pay it forward.
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