I want to start my article this week with a shout-out to everyone who had a hand in putting on the 79th Annual Mummers Day Parade in South Williamsport.

My wife and I took Beau down to his first parade, and he loved it. We had a great time, and it was one of those days that I know will be a core memory for our family.

While I was standing there watching the parade, I got to thinking, and that’s actually what gave me the idea for this week’s article.

Now, I’m a Loyalsock Lancer to my core. My wife and I both graduated from there, but we currently live in the South Williamsport community.

And I have to give credit where credit is due. There is something pretty special happening in Mountie land. The sense of community pride in South Williamsport is something that really stood out to me. Everyone at the parade seemed genuinely happy to be there. People were smiling, talking, supporting those participating, and just enjoying everything that was going on around them. It was awesome to see.

And it’s not just the parade.

One thing I think is really cool about South Williamsport is that it still has that Friday night football feeling. You know what I’m talking about. The kind of Friday night where it feels like the whole town shuts down for a football game. You can hear the roar of the crowd and the band playing from streets away. There is just something special about that.

And from what I’ve seen, that pride goes beyond football. The students seem to take pride in their school, support their classmates, and genuinely enjoy cheering each other on.

I actually witnessed a pretty cool example of that at the parade.

I want to give a special shout-out to the South Williamsport varsity cheerleaders.

They were standing near us as the parade was getting ready to start, and I noticed them cheering for the different people and groups coming through. But what really caught my attention was their interaction with the younger Mountie cheerleaders. As the parade got started, the varsity girls walked with the little cheerleaders, cheering with them and making them feel like they were part of something special. You could tell how much it meant to those younger girls.

Something that probably seemed so simple to those varsity cheerleaders may have made those little girls’ entire day. That’s the kind of stuff that makes a community special.

So what’s my point in all of this?

I think sometimes we’re losing that sense of community in the world we live in today. We get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life that we forget to slow down and enjoy what’s happening right in front of us. We’re busy with work and everything else life throws our way. I’m guilty of it too. But I think sometimes we forget how important it is to show up.

Show up for the kids playing football on a Friday night. Show up for the basketball team on a Tuesday evening. Show up for the school concert, the parade, the fundraiser, or whatever else might be happening in your community.

I’ve driven by football games and attended basketball games around the area where it’s honestly sad to see how few people are in the stands.

These kids are working hard, representing their schools, and doing something they love. How cool would it be if more people from the community came out just to support them? And I’m not talking about just showing up when your family member is playing. I’m talking about showing up because you’re proud of your community and want to support the people in it.

The same goes for events outside of sports.

Parades, school plays, concerts, fundraisers, festivals, and community gatherings all take people willing to put in time and effort to make them happen.

Well, Beau started getting cold, so we decided to walk home. But on our walk, I got to thinking. Lately, I’ve had the mindset that as long as I’m taking care of my family and keeping to myself, I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. But maybe I’ve been looking at it wrong.

God wants us to be part of a community, encourage others, and spread His word through our actions. How can we do that if we never get out and interact with others?

Family will always come first, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be part of something bigger.

So get out, support your community, and be there for others. You never know whose life you might impact just by showing up.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another. ~ Hebrews 10:24–25