Last week, a large part of the country was hit with snow, ice, and below-freezing temperatures. Nashville was hit harder than most and continues to recover. At Bethesda, when workshops fall during weeks like this, we hold plans loosely. Winter weather almost always brings uncertainty, and cancellations are part of the reality.
After carefully monitoring conditions, we decided to move forward with our scheduled workshop. We did not expect everyone to be able to attend, and yet, every single participant showed up.
I told our staff it felt like a small miracle.
The truth is, this isn’t an isolated moment. Even when workshops coincide with challenging weather, we typically see the vast majority of people attend when it’s safe to do so. And that says something meaningful. It reflects the courage and commitment required for recovery and healing. Choosing to show up for this kind of work is never casual. It asks people to face parts of themselves they would rather avoid, to sit with discomfort, and to practice honesty in places where shame often lives. These are not easy rooms to walk into on a good day, let alone when routines are disrupted and uncertainty is in the air.
What I witnessed this week was a group of people doing exactly that. They didn’t come because it was convenient. They came because healing matters. They came because hope is stronger than fear, fatigue, or distraction. That kind of commitment deserves to be named.
It’s a powerful reminder that real change grows out of consistency, courage, and community. Healing doesn’t need perfect conditions. It needs our presence, showing up despite the circumstances and trusting God to use our willingness for good.
Mike Vaughn
Executive Director |
