We lived through it, and all of us were affected in so many different ways. However, I found something during this time that inspired me personally and professionally. Some jobs are like having running water. You never want your water to shut off. You know exactly what I mean. When the water gets shut off, everything else, shy of having a life-threatening situation, takes a back seat till the water problem is fixed.
There are many occupations that are like water to us. From the trucking industry, medical field, grocery business, and utility services and transportation, they are part of what gives our lives, country and communities the ability to carry out our daily responsibilities and the very act of living. They are part of our “running water”. As the Covid situation unfolded, I found an opportunity to do and experience something special.
As most of you know, my journey and career includes being a brand representative for Conecuh Sausage (www.conecuhsausage.com). After finishing up a final season in an 8-year run of the national tv show “The Right Place with Kevin Sport”, I had written the jingle “Get your Grill On” for Conecuh Sausage, and I was doing events, concerts, media tours, community charity events, and whatever the occasion, we served up Conecuh Sausage. The product speaks for itself. If you know, you know:) It’s a joy to be a part of the Conecuh team. Combining food with music and entertainment was also a way to bring people together, and that will never change for me.
As the Covid situation unfolded, I called a Fire Chief to see how he was doing. In the course of that conversation, he teased me about coming by and serving up Conecuh dogs for them. I decided that I would. I just released our first short 2-minute social media video where I start sharing some of the back story. From that moment, I realized two things. First, I found something during that time that I could do completely off the truck while abiding by whatever rules were in place at each destination. Second, I listened. I’ve listened to the people in each community that for whatever reason decided to serve us with their life in this way. The stories they shared while sharing a meal were incredibly moving. We also found plenty of things to laugh about. I also found what I call “the real day”. Interacting with folks right in front of me. No agenda, no angle, just real conversation, and the chance to say thank you and learn about their lives.
In the past almost 3 years, I have had the pleasure of meeting all kinds of people who serve as 1st Responders. Fire Fighters, emergency medical personnel, police offices, sheriffs, and community leaders who you will never see on major news outlets but serve their communities and neighbors every day. I was also fortunate to do an event at the Fire College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Men and women from all over the country as well as parts of the world have chosen this college for training. The persons who work there are amazing and what I learned was eye opening.
Like a lot of cool things, you don’t see it coming. As a matter of fact, you might have set out on a completely different road and realized what you thought was your next destination was changed. For me, that’s exactly what happened. There’s a lot going on in our world and our country. There always has been and always will be, but we have to be present, open, and aware so we can contribute in the right way at the right time.
In the coming months, I along with my manager, Denny Sanders at (TLC Nashville), will be putting together a special project with what I started naming in my social media posts, “Sharing the Love”. The phrase has two meanings. First, I was sharing the love of Conecuh Sausage by serving up a sausage dog, chips, and drinks, and entertaining with music, conversation, and meeting different people in the communities and saying thank you. The second meaning, however, is where the heart is found. They “share the love” to us every day they get up. There’s a chance that day could be their last. It’s sobering. It’s inspiring. It’s deserving of our respect and gratitude, and encouragement. These folks strive to be the best. We should too.
I wrote a song a few years ago called “Good Morning Jesus”. I recorded a demo. When we say “demo” we mean it was recorded with the intention of just getting it down. Kinda like your first draft of your essay. It was the last song in that session that day and I had an hour left. I asked the guys if they didn’t mind laying something down just so I could have a starting point for later. So, we did. The message of the song is simple; Chorus lyric line “I want to share a smile even when I hurt, I want to be able to share a kind word to a stranger today” The first time I played this song, I was greeted with, “I needed to that, thank you”. Every time I’ve played this song, I’ve gotten that kind of response, and I can tell you that the reason I wrote the song to begin with is because I needed it. I want to be the best version of myself I can be. I wrote the song because I believe in Jesus, and I believe we can tap into that kind of love through our faith but regardless of your own personal beliefs, the song is honest and the message is about loving each other.
As I started to incorporate events with the 1st responders, I realized that they live the message of this song every day. We plan to record a final version soon and release this song while sharing stories of these brave, steady, everyday heroes. They are the heart of every community.
We have so much to share…
Love Big