We as a community have faced a lot over the past couple of years and now, with the recent storms, our challenges have risen to… well, even tougher challenges. As you go through this month’s SOKY Happenings you will see many great articles by our wonderful writers. Only a few make mention of the storms. Please know this in no way represents a lack of concern or caring about what the writers and their neighbors have been facing, but instead represents the demands of early holiday printing deadlines. Because I’m the boss, my column is almost always the last thing written for each issue and thus I had an opportunity to refer to the storms that recently ravaged South Central Kentucky.
First, let me say that our thoughts and prayers continue to be with all our friends and neighbors who suffered losses… both personal and business. Like many in our area and around the country, the SOKY Family has done everything we can to assist.
But what I wanted to talk about this month is not what we have lost… but what we have gained. I have been in the media in this area for nearly 50 years. I have been up close and personal with many events that have challenged our great community, and each time something like this happens I am always encouraged and amazed to see how we all turn out to help.
And each time I think to myself… “Thank you, God, that we live in a place where families help families… where friends help friends… but most of all, where strangers help strangers.” No one is looking for recognition or repayment. They are just reaching out to their neighbors with love and assistance where it is needed.
This morning… as I write this about a week after the storms… the local news websites are filled with stories of help. Money is being raised everywhere. Individuals and groups are turning out in force to assist with cleanup and to support the professionals doing their jobs to put things back together.
As powerful and horrible as the storms and the damage they left behind were, the outpouring of love, assistance and support is even more powerful. It has been hard not to be discouraged and depressed over all the damage and loss. But, to be honest, I have shed more tears from the pride I feel after reading each story of support. More than once Twila has been sharing a news story with me about some person or group reaching out to help and her voice catches with emotion.
I just checked the website of our friends over at WBKO-TV. There are 16 stories on their home page about help and support to tornado victims. And that’s just… as they say… “The tip of the iceberg!” The important thing to come away from all this with is that the Universe can throw political upheaval at us. It can loose a virus that distracts us for a year or two. It can even drop large deadly storms on our community. But through all those challenges, with the help of a loving God, our community will survive and thrive. I believe we will overcome all these challenges. We will come out stronger and better on the other side. That’s the way God made us and that is why… we are BG Strong… We are South Central Kentucky Strong… We are Kentucky Strong and we are American Strong. God bless you and yours in the New Year. Let’s begin the year with hope and work together to make our community even better than the amazing place it already is.
