Someone’s crying, my Lord, Kumbaya.
Someone’s dreaming, my Lord, Kumbaya.
Someone’s singing, my Lord, Kumbaya.
Oh Lord, Kumbaya.
It’s often sarcastically offered, but…
This Christmas, if I could be granted one wish it would be that we all hold hands and sing “Kumbaya.” I truly believe that there is a deep longing for that neighborly connection and the shared sense of fellowship necessary to tackle our challenges together.
With every expansion of our ability to communicate, society has become increasingly isolated and self-involved. However, and despite this trend, the innate humanity of our community continues to bond us and inspire new and powerful efforts to improve life for our neighbors.
This is particularly noticeable in the holiday season, but in Oneonta it is a year-round story that should be celebrated and serve as a counterweight to the negativity that can be so overwhelming.
As an example, this past weekend’s sub-zero temperatures posed a life-threatening concern for our neighbors without shelter. Without warm clothing and a roof over their heads, the fatal risk of hypothermia was all too real for far too many.
Geoff Doyle of the Foothills Performing Arts Center assessed the need and took advantage of his social media platform to spread the word. He solicited coats, scarves, hats, gloves, boots, and more to be donated to the warming station and the homeless shelter. And the community responded — as it always does — with an outpouring of generosity that filled rooms to overflow.
Although they stopped taking donations on Saturday evening, Doyle and his team were still packing and delivering warm clothes well into Sunday.
This impromptu effort joined dozens of others that have become annual rituals in Oneonta. Scores of our neighbors prepared and served meals for those struggling with hunger, poverty and loneliness. Many others donated money and non-perishable food or anonymously bought gifts for children in need.
During these past several weeks, countless numbers of residents made a point to visit and support the shops in our struggling downtown and east and west ends. (For some businesses, your commitment to shopping locally will be the difference in their survival.)
Our city’s population is aging and faced with the challenges of lessening mobility, ever-tightening finances, and diminishing circles of friends and loved ones. Enter The Gathering Place, just outside the city in the town of Oneonta. When added to the connective and inventive programming of the YMCA, and to the increasing opportunities offered by our colleges, churches and others, The Gathering Place has become intrinsically woven into the fabric of our senior population’s quality of life.
Dozens of people are dedicating their time and energies to benefit Oneonta’s next generations, as well. From the care and nurture of infants and toddlers to elementary and high-school volunteerism, coaching, mentoring and foster care, these threads of kindness are the ties that bind our community.
Increasingly, faith-based initiatives are combining with the good work of our service agencies to make a difference in the address of food insecurity, drug addiction and homelessness.
Every day, equally thorny issues and the evolving concerns of the city are being tackled by volunteers on boards, commissions and task forces. The energies and commitment of those who staff our city departments continues to amaze me. These, and more, are stories that should be told, repeated and celebrated.
They give me optimism, and a reason to think there is potential for Kumbaya.
An opportunity for Kumbaya.
And so, I am offering this invitation.
Join me in 8 days, on Wednesday, Jan. 1, (New Year’s Day) at 2 p.m. in Muller Plaza. Together, hand-in-hand, we’ll line Main Street and “sing Kumbaya.”
Can you think of a better way to welcome 2025?