One week

One week. Seven days.

A whole new world.

One week ago, we’d just finished two solid days of torrential downpours. Interstates became rivers. The Cumberland crept out of its banks and into many of Nashville’s historic landmarks. The Opryland Hotel held 10 feet of water. The Opry stage (yes, even the historic circle from the original Opry stage at the Ryman where icons like Hank Williams once stood) was covered in water. People were searching for loved ones who had been swept away in the water.

Now, one week later, the water has receded. And the city has been left with a disaster to clean up. Houses have been virtally destroyed. It may be October or even December before the Opryland Hotel reopens. But one week later, the sun is shining, roads are open, and today, the students go back to school.

And today, all over the city, volunteers will head out to the hardest hit locations, places with names like Pennington Bend, Riverwalk, and Cottonwood—names I didn’t know before—to help the owners clean up, air out, and haul out the remains of the things that had made up their homes and lives. Federal officials have been here, but they’re not the ones who have made a difference in the aftermath. (Yes, the federal government has made funds and things available that have provided tremendous help, but that’s not where the hands on help came from.) It’s the people of Nashville who’ve done that. People who volunteered in the homes of people they didn’t even know. People who didn’t know how to clean up after a flood but learned. People who loved and put that love into action. People who collected toiletries and clothing and people who donated. People who prayed. People who invited others into their homes. Churches have made an impact this week, proof that God can use even the very worst to display His glory.

One week. Seven days. Seven days of water conservation. Seven short and simultaneously incredibly long days of inconveniences, fear, and joy. Yes, joy. Joy has risen slowly, like the sun, and shone over Middle Tennessee this last week. Circumstances have been hard for many, but joy is rising. We’re going to be OK. Music will play in Music City again.

In fact, it never stopped. The Opry has temporarily moved locations. The Ryman has a schedule of shows that’s hard to beat. Music and life has continued.

One week. Seven days.

A whole new world. Nashville will be changed by this, and for the better I think. We’ll come through even if that rebuilding is going to take awhile. It’s been one week, but I think this city has said something very important about itself through its actions.

One week. A mere seven days.