A Man Lying In The Road Helped To Redefine Community
Posted: Friday, July 08, 2011
by Dr. Carla Goddard
It is interesting how the Universe works, the synchronicity can be astounding when you step back and reflect.
Late this afternoon I had to drive my 15 year old son to an interview for a position he is looking to obtain at our local hospital. I opted to drop him off and run to the store to combine an errand with my trip. The plan was to pick up my son, pick up dinner, and be back home in plenty of time to head out to my Tribal Belly Dance Class with my 17 year old. That was the plan.
It was then that everything began to move in slow motion. The front vehicle began to move forward, an odd sound echoed. I could not determine for a moment its origin. Then my stomach grew a knot. Slamming my car into park and off to jump out. The car on the road screeching tires as it sped away. Moving towards the road. Second car in line swerving out of line and squealing tires as though disturbed at the scene speed off in the same direction as the vehicle racing away. I felt as though I was even running in slow motion towards the road. Voices from behind me screaming into the air "get an ambulance FAST". Another scream from another vehicle of horror. My only thought why was it taking so long to reach the road.
I won't go into the next few minutes. The scene was not pretty as a man had been struck by the first vehicle that speed away. The soda cans strewn across the road beginning to roll down the hill only added to the chaotic picture. The second vehicle to scream from the parking lot returned and was able to give the arriving officers detailed information as to the incident including plate numbers. There were many who witnessed the event first hand that were in their own stories full of trauma issues. There was for a moment a sense of community based upon the trauma. One person helping another, comforting another, and offering support. The man lying in the road now under the capable hands of police and EMT's.
My phone rang, my son was wondering where I was as now I was late. As I got back into my sports car to head out (as did everyone at the scene), the skies darkened and lightning began. Driving home in a thundering and torrential down pour was requiring my attention as many roads (including my own road to my house) had flash flooding issues. By the time I arrived home (without dinner), it was time for my class to begin and I was over an hour drive away. My class would be over before I even arrived.
As I sit here writing this, the rain has already stopped as it does in Florida. I granted myself a few moments to reflect. Earlier I had been speaking of community and suddenly one was created. The dynamics of it based upon a traumatic event. I did not meet with the community of women at the Tribal Belly Dance Class due to another community. One based upon trauma and one based upon sharing of energy through dance.
Back to the first community. It was divided into small "nodules" within the community. There were some focused solely on the man lying in the road. There were some focused solely on the anger at the vehicle that left (some taking action upon that anger). There were some focused solely on their own emotional reaction. Yet, the entire community shared a commonality.
Different communities, different communities within communities. Each engaging differently with one another, each communicating differently with one another; yet equal in value.
Community: A connection bond that unifies individuals as equals each individual in a way that is supportive.
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