Tomato

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     Today we spent time in East Nashville at the Annual Tomato Festival. We started going several years ago but unfortunately we haven't been able to go in the past couple of years. Today was one of those days that remind you of what it means to be a community.

Community comes in a variety of forms to which we often miss.  This morning the first community began as we walked through KidsFest at East End UMC. It's a truly a community church that welcomes families of all forms.  There was something powerful and magical to see all the strollers literally lined up on the iron fence (I wish I had thought to take a picture of the beauty of all the strollers together).  It was as if the empty/unattended strollers lined along the way sidewalk represented a deep love and joy.  Parents and children playing together and a community embracing them with a love so pure that it couldn't be missed.

Local artist bottle caps
There was a community of local artist.  Local artist who so bravely put their creations out for the 'world' to see.  By displaying their art they were displaying a piece of their soul. They were trusting that the passerby'ers would embrace them into their world. The artisan community reached out to us today as they shared their passion, their gifts and their views of the world.  It is a community of passion and dedication.

Check it out in East Nashville
or Berry Hill area
              Then there was the community of restauranteurs who were sharing their passion of locally grown items transformed into amazing food that would sustain us.  The East Nashville community has one of my favorite people/family.  The Piper's...my friend Jenny owns Pied Piper Creamery.  It's a community that feeds the hungry not just physically but socially and emotionally.  They provide places where kids can come to read and share in the joy of ice cream.  It is a community that understands hunger of all varieties and is willing to respond.

Yes, my friend Jenny makes tomato ice cream
and sorbet


Of course there was those of us who were joined together as a community as we shared in the local treats that have come together around a little red vegetable/fruit that we call a tomato.




Do we see the communities that embrace you everyday?  Do you notice the community that surrounds you?  Who is a part of your community?  What do you do that draws you together?  Who do you need to reach out and draw into a community?

Thankful for the reminder that I am part of something larger than myself!









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