This weeks brief reflection is on the amount of steps it takes to get up the mountain. I have to admit to you right now, I am looking at the top and wondering if I am going to make it. This is a very natural thought as we push through these weeks of October. Be aware, events and updates are going to move fast and if you are not checking the website or GroupMe at least every other day, you may miss something. Times change, needs change, there is never a day that goes by that we have not had to pivot. It is becoming the motto for this year.
But with every pivot, I have seen a hero emerge and a blessing story. Every pivot a parent, a band director, or a student step up. These pivots, although difficult in the moment, turn out to be blessings. Let me give you an example. Saturday Morning for Grovetown comp, we all heard about the truck issues. Penske had no truck for our Reservation. The hero who stepped up- Chris F! He has driven for us to competitions in the past and is slated for this weekend. He had a wedding during the Grovetown event and could not assist us. He still called around to see if one of his friends could lend a hand. Come to find out, Chris is very connected in the Trucking world and with Forsyth County Schools Transportation. He found us Mr. Cody Brown.
Mr. Cody Brown is a man who would give his shirt right off his back. When I called him about 3 hours before we needed him at the school with a truck coming from Gainesville, he was sitting in a restaurant eating with his family. His own family was going through some difficult moments as his wife was just laid off. He saw this call as a blessing and he told me as much. The amount of changes and pivots to have this come about to land just right to help him, was amazing.
This evening, I called him and was checking to see if he was available if we needed him for Saturday for BOA comps. You know what he said to me? Mr. Alger, anytime you need me to drive, I will be there. He said, "Its not the money, but two things: First, I love driving manual transmissions and will take any opportunity I can to do so. But also, what made my day was the way the kids greeted the truck and were excited to see him drive up when I rolled up in the truck." He went on to explain how it made him feel like he was giving something back for driving helping the band to get where they needed to be. He felt he had been part of something bigger. He experienced the Lambert Band community and was uplifted by it. This is our goal.
Our hard work is paying off. Our students are stepping up and our community is being built. This is what motivates me to keep putting one foot in front of the other. Every performance, students pushing to be better, parents stepping up in moments of need; these are the things that push me to make sure I am doing my part and fills me with gratitude for all of the sacrifices everyone is making to make our Lambert Band successful.
So thank all who chaperoned and wrangled at the Denmark away Game, and who prepared and served meals, and who helped to clean out the storage unit. So much was done with so many hands. We had about 10 people show up to help and we got it done in about 1.5 hours. Props to all of the parents who came out at such a short notice.