The ESTN Truth

By Margie Quin, CEO

Tornadoes plus a pandemic test even the most optimistic of us. It’s hard to imagine that our adaptation to these challenges will not fundamentally change the way we live and work. If you don’t like change, this is going to be a rough time for you. If, on the other hand, you are energized by change, this may be your moment to shine. At ESTN, we are finding new ways to work, new ways to engage, new ways to stay connected, new ways to hope.

Our virtual Client Group Therapy has begun, and our community supporters like the Junior League of Nashville will deliver a box of games, videos and puzzles weekly to the safe house. They brought a corn-hole set for the back yard last week – a huge success! The ESTN Brentwood Ambassadors are decorating a child’s room for a client who just moved into a new apartment and is about to be reunited with her daughter.

Despite these great things, our referrals have slowed to a trickle – when in February we were on pace to hit 300+ mark again this year. Why have they slowed? Well, our referral sources are focused on other things. Our Community partners are also working remotely and when we disengage at a very personal level, truths become hard to find. Has Human Trafficking slowed to a trickle? I don’t have the scientific data on that, but my over-a-decade of experience in this work tells me – no way. Just like the collective “we” have gone virtual – so, too, have the traffickers. We can see porn sites offering “free 30-day trials” so they can use this opportunity to increase “demand” and make money. We do know that traffickers are using the internet to recruit victims. The traffickers will have adapted to this new reality, just like you and me. Because the internet is the #1 way victims are targeted, and with tens of thousands of children on screens all day, danger is right in your house.

I was reminded by a virtual sermon this week that in John 18:38, Pontius Pilot asked Jesus, “What is truth?”  in response to Jesus’ claim that he is “witness to the truth.” We are all searching for the truth in these difficult times. Depending on your political views, religious beliefs, education or vocation, you may believe something very different than your neighbor. During my years in law enforcement, I used to say quite often, “The truth happens one time, and if you aren’t there to see it, you may never really know it.” When we rely on people to give us the truth, it comes to us through a filter – one we have built based on all those things just listed. Have the grace to listen, hear and make the best decisions, even when they are difficult.

Right now, at ESTN, we are living OUR truth – one we create to survive the times in which we are now living. We try to do the right thing, make each right decision, one at a time. We listen to each other even when it is virtually through computer screens.  We long for the days when we can fellowship together again. We will see those days return.

History will judge whether we did what was right by our clients. Donors will judge whether we managed our funds responsibly. The community will judge how well we collaborated within the larger nonprofit family.

The dichotomy of our current situation – the yin and yang of our world is in stark relief. It brings to mind Charles Dickens’ beginning in a Tale of Two Cities - “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” We can empower those around us to choose “best”, choose “wisdom”, choose “belief”, chose “light” and most of all, choose “hope”. You can be a beacon of hope in these despairing times.

When economies suffer, it is the disadvantaged, the vulnerable and the poor who fall further behind. It is up to us all to make sure that doesn’t happen. At ESTN, we care for just that population. As a beacon of hope, you can ensure we are able to reach and serve those who may tend to fall through the cracks. Click here to see how you can take action and serve along-side us. The right decision we make today is hope.