Seeking a Higher Ground
Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. I put this 5-gallon bucket outside my driveway on Friday evening. It was bone dry. This is a picture of it on Sunday afternoon.
It is ironic how when water is everywhere, the one thing that you think you have plenty of is the one thing that you don’t… pure water. That is one of the issues which the Nashville/Middle Tennessee community is dealing with. Several of our utilities including Metro Nashville have pumping and processing stations still under water. Electrical equipment doesn’t work well when submerged 10′ deep.
While Nashville Wraps is high, dry and operating normally, many of our employees are affected by the floods and so are hundreds if not thousands of area residents. My nephew Zack took yesterday off and with the help of a friend got his boat into communities affected by the flooding Cumberland River and helped 100 or more people get to dry land. What those people will do next, no one knows right now. Cars are under water all along the low areas and businesses and homes are flooded.
When I was raised my dad taught me the importance of being in (or out of) a flood plain and the right time to get to higher ground. It is something I will never forget. My Mom called me Saturday night and said she was afraid that the creek would be in her living room. I told her it was impossible; Dad knew where the higher ground was when he built the house. And while the rushing waters were menacing, they could not approach the higher ground. The picture is a view from Mom’s back porch, our pond is at left and the muddy water of Sulfur Fork Creek at right.
In the scriptures Jesus told a parable about the importance of building on a firm foundation. It is a good illustration in today’s troubled times. Whether it is recession, acts of nature or of men, we can survive by building and relying on a firm foundation of solid principles for business and life in general, and of course by knowing when to seek the higher ground. In times of hardship which affect an entire community, area, state or country, people always come together and help those who they do not know. We all become good neighbors.
I saw something that illustrates this at my own house during the rains. When I walked outside to see what was stopping up the gutters, I noticed there was a snake on the roof. He was simply seeking higher ground. I just smiled and thought that was pretty smart. Friends and foes alike, all are together in these events and are just trying to survive and help each other out. I let him be, which in a small way was really helping him.
Today when you watch the news and wonder what you can do to help, I recommend the following area organizations which are making a difference by providing higher ground and comfort to many Tennesseans.
The Nashville Union Rescue Mission
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee
Robby Meadows, Director of Marketing
CYA in Business with a Contingency Plan
Hi Robby,
Having just moved away a week before this happened, with no cable and no real way of tracking this, you can imagine I was very upset. I called everyone I knew as soon as I found out, and thankfully all was well.
I still own my house there, and was very worried about my brother and dogs. (Knowing my mother was ok, being that she lives on higher ground.) But as it turns out my home is also on higher ground. God blessed me, and everyone I know in Nashville, and I am very grateful. However, I feel badly for those who were not so lucky. I do have a friend who lost a vehicle, but he and his family were ok. As he said, it was only a car.
I miss you all terribly, and will be home soon. Hello to my Nashville Wraps family! I can’t wait to come back!
god bless you all.god is good and he will help you all. one year ago april 9th. our family lost everything .house barns and everything that we owned.we were caught in the wildfires here in texas. but one year later god has blessed us with a new home and all new fences and we are working on the barn. so have faith and remember GOD IS GOOD…..
So glad to hear that you all are ok, and that you can conduct your business. This is enabling you to reach out to others that are having such a hard time coping with all of the problems this tradgedy has caused. It was wonderful to hear about your love for the Lord too.
His hand is upon all of Nashville and the other areas of Tennessee that are suffering. The outcome will be many miracles and thousands of answered prayers!
Taylor Girls
Gatlinburg
Thanks for keeping us informed. I noticed that the national news folks are so amazed at the community spirit in Nashville. I told my husband that they don’t realize it is a “church” town where people know what and how to do for their neighbors. No one is sitting around waiting for FEMA to rescue them. They are getting help from friends and neighbors. God bless you. Linda Jones
Thanks for the update. Keeping you all in our prayers. My the Lord be with you and keep you safe.
Fellow Tennesssean with relatives still living there affected by the flood. So take care & we are keeping you in our prayers
I am a fellow Tennessean born & raised in west Tennessee living in Illinois….where every spring it seems to always flood in my little Tennessee home town. We always with the help of God, Friends & familygot through it ..So may God bless you & keep you & give you the strength to carry on. You will definitley overcome this!!
I live outside of Nashville. Between Cumberland an Clarksville. Our community has also been affected by the rains. We are all pulling together and trying to help out as much as possible. Our prayers are with all of the victims of the floods.
I was deeply saddened to see and now hear first hand the devastation to your beautiful city. We are not unfamiliar with flooding in Maryland, and we will also keep you in our prayers. Thank-you for your moving account of what is happening.
Rozi
Good to hear you are doing well. It is in trials and hard times that we rely on our God the most, and see Him at work! Thank you for your insight. My church helps out an inner-city outreach called Cottage Cove in Nashville. We haven’t heard from them, but hope they are dry. It is always a pleasure doing business with Nashville Wraps – our prayers are with you.
Lois from Bellville, OH
I cant believe the flood waters in Nashville. I am in the Bahamas. We had a situation like this from a storm in several of our Islands 3 years ago from a rain storm. They have recovered or at least most of them. Hold tight and I loved the write uips.
Well written story Robby! Thanks so much for posting it. I’m so glad to hear that you were spared from the flooding. My heart goes out to all that were not. We drive through Nashville on our way up to Kentucky twice a year and we were deeply saddened to see the devestation. May God watch over all of you, and help you through these difficult times.
Robby,
Thank you for sharing and reminding us that although we have been doing business with your company for many years, your company is made up of regular people such as ourselves trying to navigate through devastating times. Your blog beautifully illustrates that we are all connected and bound to each other. You all will remain in our prayers and in our hearts as we choose one of the links you provided so that we can lend a hand in some way. Thanks again and I wish you warm dry days ahead and the strength to deal with the clean up ahead.
Hello everyone,
Just received your e-mail concerning the flood in Nashville. I am grateful that families are find – businesses can be replaced but family is everything. I know what you are going thru I am in Houston and endured Hurricane Ike and I our home is still not back to where it was prior to the arrival of Ike. My thoughts and prayers are with your family, neighbors and business as you re-group.
Ruby
Thank you for sharing the personal side of this tragic situation. I’m grateful that Nashville Wraps is well, but saddened that many others are not. My prayers and thoughts are with each of you and may your hope give you strength for now and tomorrow.
Virginia
Glad to hear that Nashville Wraps is ok and helping others in need. My daughter works with Smaritan’s Purse in Boone NC (Franklin Graham’s organization) that helps clean up and provide prayer and support during a disaster. She stated that the team had gone to help! I know the hurt a little, having survived Katrina in Mississippi. Keeping you on my prayer list.
Wilson’s Old Time Candy Shoppe!
Purvis, MS
Robby,
Your insight, thoughts, and philosophy are well taken on many levels during these challenging times. In September of 2004 our businesses, and a good portion of our town, was flooded. Reading about all that your community is going through brings back tearful memories. You will all get through this and you will find a strength of community and a strength of self that you didn’t know existed. I wish you all the best and thank you for sharing.
–Pam Saunders
our prayers are withyou from OKC.OK.
God love you all! Wishing you a better and drier summer!
We’re here for you and will continue to purchase your products – you’re the best!
We’re praying for all of you at Nashville Wraps. In times like these, it’s all we have. Sharing Scripture and words of hope are important to feed each other spirits! God will bring you thru this as you all trust in Him and His faithfulness.
Thanks so much for the posting. Here in the West I feel so far removed from what you’re experiencing, I really appreciated the insight. Your analogy was powerful and timely. You are all in our prayers.
I am 55 miles north in BG and did nothing this weekend but watch News 5 from Nashville and beg my aunt/uncle to get out. They live off MacGovack Pike in the Lakeshore Community. When she said the river had crossed the park beside their house and was on the road I was so scared. Thankfully people got in and got them out. My uncle is 84 and blind, so my aunt was afraid to leave. We were totally cutoff from getting to them. I even called channel 5 desperate to keep help to them. Thankfully they were gotten to in time. They lost everything and had 6ft of water in the house when it was done. We were going to try and go down today and tomorrow to work and salvage but there is nothing to do, still 4 ft of water in house. I volunteered in the Gulf Coast of MS after Katrina. This will show you the best in humanity and the strength/will of ordinary people. It will also demonstrate faith and compassion. I pray that the Music City recovers and finds its melody and voice quickly. Bless you all
Robby, thank you for taking the time to communicate an update to all of us – I’m a small business owner who has found encouragement in your recent email re: Nashville Wraps’ business report and now reading your blog I see we may be more than just partners in business – thank you for directing our thoughts back to the Word…its been my pleasure to listen to your thoughts…God’s blessings on you, your family, community and business endeavors.
God bless all you folks at Nashville Wraps. You are a true inspiration to me and I trust many other people around the country. I appreciate so much your expression of faith in these difficult times all around Tennessee; but be assured that God has this entire situation under control, and we are standing in faith with you that the devastation which has occurred will be bring about a belief in a higher place of structural stability and truth found only in a Christ-centered existence. God speed to you all.
Glad to hear you are all ok,So sad about eeryone else.Thanks for being positive
Those of us here in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast are keeping you in our thoughts, even as news of our own current disaster (the oil spill in the Gulf) seems to have trumped the Tennessee flooding as far as the major news media is concerned. We also know firsthand the devastating effects of flooding. I’m keeping you and your region in my thoughts.
Robby, Thanks for the info on Nashville. We hear in PA. in 1972 had a devistating flood from the Susquehanna River. My home was on higher ground but both small towns by me were flooded out. It was amazing how everyone came together to help our fellow man.Citizens did most of the clean-up. I washed clothes for people and helped clean out basements. Mud everywhere. I believe things happen for a reason.We need to take stock of where we are especially now in these hard times and get back to the grass roots of this country. Thanks for your input and God Bless you all in Nashville. I’ve been there many times and it’s a favorite place of mine.
Robby, You are a wonderful role model for each of us. Your involvement, compassion, and faith are all values we need to embrace. Thank you for sharing not only your information but yourself. A brief read of your blog ~ and its comments ~ proves that we get what we give: your followers share your goodness. My son lives in Nashville also and my husband and I were visiting him when the storms came through. I believe this was a ‘life event’ and one that has the ability to make each of us better people if we choose: more conscious of who and why we are here, what we need to do to make a difference, and how the choices we make impact virtually everything. There is a lot to consider, and these rains helped water the seeds.
Such a powerful message Robby! May God comfort and enable your Tennesse family…
such a pleasure knowing through your voice that I am doing business with like minded professionals. Keep your heads up – all will heal with time!
Thank you for sharing your situation in such a positive way. With the drop in the economy and such devistation around the world I do not know how any person can go through any of this time untouched. We all have so much to be grateful for even when we lose all our worldly posessions.
May God continue to keep you in His care.
Fayetteville, NC
Thank you, Robby, for the beautifully written article on Nashville’s devastation. We don’t realize how blessed we are until we see our neighbors suffering. Our prayers go out to all affected at Nashville Wraps and to your wonderful city. May God bless you in the midst of this tragedy.
Huntsville, AL
Robby,
So wonderful to hear you reference the Bible in your blog. Very good analogy we can all use reminding of.
Glad to hear you guys are fine and even helping out with those who are not as fortunate. God’s Blessings as you endeavor to do His Will.
Jamie of The Blackberry Lodge
Dear Robby,
Thank you for sharing. I am thankful that all is well at Nashville Wraps. I was very moved by your article and your boldness to share the word of God. I pray that God will open doors for you to share your Christian beliefs during this time of hardship in your community. Blessings to you and your great company.
Alabama
Your story is beautifully written and appreciated. I have a brother living in Lebanon near you and have kept up with the devastation that has hit Tennessee. Our prayers are extended to all of you as you recover and move forward in your communities, homes, and the area overall.
Thank you for keeping us in the loop and may you all recover quickly and safely.
Thanks for the update, I grew up in Madison and I’m looking for every scrap of news and every photo I can find. I’m there in spirit.
MexicoMoon
Argyle, Tx
My thoughts go out to you. We had the flooding in Warwick RI last month, and know how you all feel. We were evacuated from our building probably 1/2 an hour before not being able to leave at all. We just got back into our building this week for business (medical office). Nice to be home. Good luck to you all.
We watched the Weather Channel with shock as we saw what was happening in Nashville and all through the southeast. All of the places that we visited when we came to Nashville have suffered damage. Bricks and mortar can be rebuilt, but the real toll is on people’s lives. May God see you through these days, and may others more fortunate step up to the plate to help. I’m just a small customer of yours, but you are in my thoughts and prayers.
We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers her in Virginia.
Laura
Beautifully written. The best to all of you.
Arizona
Thank you for sharing these images. Our prayers are with all in your community. Most of all thank you for the personal insight on the situation. It was very inspirational!
Faye Barnes
Ruston, LA
So beautifully said. Thank you.
We are so glad to here you are alright, Kiwanis held there International Convention there last year and its hard to believe that Nashville is under water this year. Please note we are concerned, and if ther ia anything we can do.
California
Robby- this was a very powerful message that you wrote. We all need to help bring people to a higher ground right now, especially our friends in Tennessee.
We, here in Louisiana, know what you are going through there in Nashville and our Prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Robby,
Our thoughts and prayers are with our freinds at Nashville Wraps and we can only imagine the pain and heartache you are all experiencing. Your perspective and faith will carry you through the day and we wish you and your people well. God bless.
Dennis Salazar
Unbelievable! so glad you’re ok. I couldn’t believe it when I turned on the news last night and this morning. good luck!
Annette
Dragonfly in Milwaukee
Dear Robby,
Glad to hear things are okay with you, sad to hear that things are not okay for everyone. I hope and pray for a quick and timely recovery for everyone and I hope things will be back to normal soon.