FORWARD

BY WALLACE CALEB BATES

Today, I keep returning to the words in Proverbs 4:25: "Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead."

What a powerful thought! It is so easy to look back, to dwell on the past, to replay every hardship, loss, and struggle.

The weight of what has been can feel impossible to shake. When disaster strikes, it is natural to want to look back at what was lost: the homes, belongings, and sense of security that were washed away by the floodwaters.

But scripture calls us to something different: to look forward.

That does not mean forgetting our past because our history, our struggles, and our stories matter. But we cannot live there. We cannot let the pain of yesterday steal the hope of tomorrow.

During crises like the one we are experiencing, I can not help but think about the history of these mountains.

Our people built this nation, quite literally, with the coal pulled from the ground by generations of miners. Their work kept the lights on in cities they would never see. Their labor fueled an economy that gave so much to the rest of the country yet somehow left our communities behind.

For decades, coal meant opportunity: a paycheck that could put food on the table and shoes on a child's feet. But as the coal economy faded, those opportunities dwindled. The jobs left. The wealth never returned. And our people, the very ones who sacrificed so much, have been left to struggle in a place they love too much to leave.

And now, when floods come and take what little is left, it would be easy to lose hope. It would be easy to believe the world has forgotten us. But today, I saw something different.

I saw people refusing to accept defeat. They are building a new future, even as they carry the weight of the past.

I saw justice in action: people demanding that our communities be no longer overlooked, that our families receive the support they deserve, and that no one be left behind this time.

I saw mercy in the hands that prepared meals, in the quiet prayers whispered over weary souls, in the way neighbors continued to show up for each other, even when they had little to give.

I saw humility in every person who picks up a shovel, sweeps a floor, or listens to another's heartache.

It reminds me of Micah 6:8: "Mankind, he has told each of you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God."

I saw people living out this calling in fundamental, tangible ways. Our community is not waiting for someone else to fix things. We are showing up, stepping into the work, and moving forward.

Yes, the world is far from perfect. The loss of jobs, the cycles of poverty, and the lack of opportunity are all authentic. The suffering is undeniable, but so is the resilience of our people.

We will continue seeking justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly because we are not just survivors; we are builders, caretakers, and people of unshakable faith.

No matter how much the past tries to pull us back, we will fix our gaze straight ahead toward healing, restoration, and a future built on the love we show for one another.

We were never promised an easy road, but we have never needed an easy road. We need a fair shot, not a handout, but a hand-up. Until that day comes, we will keep doing what we have always done: taking care of ourselves, holding onto hope, and pressing forward.

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