Have you seen the commercial on television about “Education Connection?” It has a catchy tune that my daughters have memorized and spontaneously begin to sing every now and again, similar to the way they sing the jingle associated with “Free Credit Report.com!” You are probably thinking that my daughters may watch too much TV, and my wife would probably agree with you! But that is not the point of this weekly update. Rather, what I am writing about this week is connection, and its importance to all of us as we go about the work of recovery. Just like the Redwood, or Sequoia, tree on the West Coast whose root system is extremely shallow BUT intertwined and matted with other trees growing alongside it, we can reach incredible heights, and the fruits of our work can last much longer if we work together. The oldest known Redwood tree is over 3,300 years old! Wouldn’t it be awesome if what we have done with MCMC could be remembered, fondly, for anywhere near that long? Continuing to explore the analogy of plants and root systems, many of you are probably familiar with the importance of pruning the plants within your garden. For those of you who are not familiar with this technique, the explanation is fairly simple. Every plant produces “shoots” that, if not pruned, or cut back, will take away nutrients from the branches of the plant that produce fruit, or blooms, or flowers that are necessary for the plant itself to survive and reproduce. These nonproductive “offshoots” can stifle growth and threaten the survival of the source plant if not tended by the gardener. I am not sure about you, but I do not want to be the branch that is not productive and therefore must be pruned!

I use this analogy to illustrate the importance of productive connection. If the MCMC project is to have a lasting impact, and if the work that we have all done together is to continue to bear fruit long after our individual tenure is through, then our nurturing of the relationships we all share is of vital importance. It is also important to cultivate new relationships that are productive and that are dedicated to the sharing of resources and information that is so critical to the overall success of the clients that we serve. As resources become even more scarce, our tendency might be to become guarded and to avoid building relationships in order that we might protect the resources that our agency or our staff has that no one else might possess. But, if we were to all do that, our individual resource(s) would probably not be sufficient to do the larger job that is left to do, and none of us would be able to successfully complete our individual or group mission(s). This type of withdrawal would likely render us to be an “unproductive offshoot,” at least in terms of the overall recovery mission. I have a plant in my home that dates its source back to 1993. I received the original plant after the funeral of my grandfather on November 22, 1993. I nurtured the plant and it grew so large that I was not able to take it with me when I was transferred from Fort Campbell, Kentucky in 1998. However, I obtained a cutting from the original plant, rooted the cutting and later repotted the plant.  This plant also grew strong and healthy, and I have obtained from it at least three other cuttings, producing three other plants for family members. The plant is a “Peace Lily” and it is a constant reminder to me of not only my grandfather and his gardening abilities, but of the importance of building healthy root systems, or connections to that which is important to us.

As we move forward this week, and as we progress ever closer to the closure of this project, think about ways in which you can cultivate healthy and productive connections to those around you so that your work done during your tenure continues to grow and produce fruit well into the future. How can you “take a cutting with you” when you leave this project that will enable you to continue to grow in your professional life? And, what will you leave behind as a lasting impression on those with whom you worked? All of these are good questions for me, and I hope that you will consider them as well. Bless you for all that you have already done to leave an impression, and thank you for the work that you continue to do on behalf of others, even in spite of the fact that your own personal interests are not always satisfied. Take care and have a great week.

Peace,

Stephen P. Carr II, MA,  MFT
Program Director
Mississippi Case Management Consortium
www.mc-mc.org