Watch Out for Ice and Fire



The good life in NWA has connections to the rest of the state, nation, and world. We may be insulated against some of the things going on in the big world “out there,” but we are not isolated. There is a story playing on the evening news about a group from Fayetteville stranded in Europe this past week due to the largest travel disruption ever outside of wartime. The cause is a volcano in Iceland spewing grit into the atmosphere.


I think there are a few useful observations we can make about this unusual event. Let me suggest a couple: Our technology is far more fragile than we like to think. As long as things work and no unexpected event takes place (be it a volcano far to the north or a winter ice storm right here), we have a robust technology that serves us well. Yet it can break down. This gives us a good reason to keep some of those old skills alive … it might be fun, as well as a good fall back skill, to know how to camp out or grow a garden.


Second, the people of NWA have a worldwide reach to help others. The people in the story featured on the evening news were in Europe on a mission trip to Sweden. Back in January when a huge earthquake event brought such havoc to Haiti, people were ready to help either in person or through donations. Our community has a great heart and open hands that reach all around the world.


What other “lessons” do you see from that Icelandic volcano blowing its top?