The Bird ... and The Turtle

May our hearts Sing like the Bird ... and Beat on like the Turtle!

CoCo McCain and Arvel Bird

(CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.) - Today, it's my pleasure to tell you about a new friend ... Arvel Bird.  Initially, I learned about Arvel when I was scheduled to interview him for a television program about Chattanooga’s Riverbend Festival. 

Arvel’s a kind and accomplished Native American flutist and violinist. I was thrilled about getting to meet this award-winning, "Artist of the Year" legend! As you can well imagine, I was crushed when our first Riverbend interview was rained out ... but thankfully, we were able to reconnect the following week.

Amidst these “follow-up” conversations, I learned both Arvel and his wife Kim lived through the South’s recent tornadoes. We’re happy to report they are both ok, but their survival stories are quite unsettling. Kim was buried underneath a brick home and had to wait hours to be found and unearthed! Kim reports a “renewed appreciation for life and good health,” and she says she’s also learned to come to terms with her current season of physical and emotional healing.

Unaware of the approaching weather system, Arvel was traveling on I-75 at the time of the storm. Thanks to a warning call from a friend, Arvel was able to quickly exit the interstate and narrowly escape the storm that so quickly made its way through the South a few months ago. To encourage healing and settling, Arvel and Kim plan to offer a community wide gathering at the tornado site. This Native American healing ritual will take place later on in the summer.

And this blustery context - their context - makes today's “good stuff” even more meaningful. The turmoil and storms bringing even greater light to their flamboyant generosity.

The first display of their kindness came in the form of “rearranging” their lives to return to Chattanooga and tell their story as part of the "Riverbend Special" being filmed for My Family TV, Tuff TV, RTV, and TNN. Logistically, there were quite a few hoops and they generously worked with us through them all- including yet another clash with the weather!

Their second display of warmth began the moment they arrived for their second filming. Kim and Arvel both brought such cheer and peace and openness. During our time together, Arvel shared what he loved about music and life.

We talked about what it was like to persevere as an artist against great odds. We talked about following your dreams. Of “making it” as a “Center-stage fiddler,” Arvel feels he made it because he kept going and going and going in order to follow his dream. In a very humble way, he explained that it was his passion for what he does that allowed him to make it when other artists, even more naturally talented artists, could not.

Professionally, Arvel feels he “made it” because he believed in what he was doing and he was willing to work hard and long to do what he felt he was supposed to do. When asked the secret to his success, Arvel shared, "do what makes your heart sing!" (Love that!)

In addition to these intangibles, Arvel also did what he does best ... play his heart out! Arvel treated us to a special mini-concert. The on-lookers were just as "in-awe" as I was. (I'm really pulling for that part to make it into the TV special!)

What a day! Our time with Arvel and Kim was splendid; and it was upon parting, that Arvel gave me one final gift. Arvel presented me with a hand-made Native American necklace. Its centerpiece ... a turtle.

The turtle necklace was beautiful. I did not know what to say. Next, he told me the symbology behind the turtle ... and then I really did not know what to say.

As the Native Americans tell it, the turtle represents determination, dedication, and longevity.

Arvel Bird, CoCo and the crew use a beautiful Gazebo as a set.

I told him there could be no more perfect gift for a girl in the very beginning of an exciting new life journey to share the good stuff. I am quite sure I teared up at that point. (Perhaps the speechlessness said more than anything else could have about how grateful I was for this very timely and meaningful gift.)

Arvel did not know this, but the turtle came on a day that I really needed a boost. It came on a day when his encouragement was greatly appreciated and needed! (Do you know those kinds of days?!?) Anyway, when I finally pulled it together, I asked, "Well, why does the turtle stand for longevity?"

Arvel then explained that the turtle represents longevity because when the Native Americans would hunt for food, they liked finding turtles because the turtle's heart would keep beating long after it had been killed. As long as the turtle’s heart kept going, its meat would stay fresh and not spoil. So turtles … though gone … kept on going.

That's quite a graphic image, but my immediate response was, "Isn't that a great picture of the lives we want to lead? ... Don't we want to live with so much heart that our lives will still be beating long after we are gone? Don't we want to live with so much spirit that we’ll still be impacting lives, still be making a difference, and still be beating our drum … long after we're gone?"

Man, oh man! Give me that! So in closing and in keeping with the Native American Spirit,

May our hearts Sing like the Bird ... and Beat on like the Turtle!

Join the conversation & find extra info about today’s Good Stuff on the BLOG at www.COCOMCCAIN.com.  Share “your story” & help me “shine a light” on the good things you see every day at COCO@COCOMCCAIN.com. I hope to hear from you soon — but between now and then may you LIVE…GIVE…and…GROW with all the good in life!   

CoCo presently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her husband and a roost of beautiful children. She says she is your ordinary girl-next-door … but on that one November day in 2009, CoCo was given an extraordinary dream: "A dream to shine a light on all the good things that happen every single day! Everyday acts of love, bravery and generosity. Everyday acts of determination, kindness and triumph in the face of tragedy. The simple things that make life so rich and rewarding! The zest and marrow of life."

She says from the very beginning, the vision for her column The Good Stuff has been crystal clear: shine a bright light on the good in life because sharing the good has the power to touch lives around the world.

You can write to CoCo McCain at this address: TheGoodStuffDesk@cocomccain.com