Kingsport Spirit

Lately, I’ve focused too much on data, metrics, and measures.

When I started this blog, I intended it to be about my unique take on the Kingsport Spirit with stories of faith, family, people, places, & the history of my hometown.

In order to understand that statement, you have to understand what “Kingsport Spirit” means.

It’s a term coined by J. Fred Johnson, our town’s founding father:

 “Frequently we are asked what motivating spirit has been most apparent in the building of this city of industries, schools, churches, and homes. Were I to undertake to define the spirit underlying every step in the growth and development of Kingsport, from the days of its humblest beginnings until now, I could not avoid the assertion that the spirit, if it be a spirit, is one of mutual helpfulness and a willingness to submerge selfish interests beneath the individual effort to assure the greater good for the greater number.”

My shorter summary is:

“A culture of mutual helpfulness and a willingness to put aside personal interests for the greater good. It’s about community, not government.”

Government is an institution, and institutions are intentionally cold and unemotional; intended to be fair and balanced, and designed to keep things somewhere in the zone between far left or right (with much tension pulling hard in both directions constantly).  Frankly, it can be exhausting.

Community is just the opposite. It’s warm, inviting, and emotionally intelligent. It makes people feel welcome and draws them into community service (in whatever role matches their strength). Some are elected officials, some serve on nonprofit boards, some are influencers, and some prefer to pick up a trash bag and join a cleanup campaign. All are important roles.

1 Corinthians 13: 1-13 tells us about faith, hope, and love.

I counseled a new mayor once, saying that my job as city manager was to be efficient with taxpayer dollars, building faith in government. His job was to give citizens hope that there is a positive future in Kingsport.

The third—and most important leg—is love (community).    

Now reread the passage, substituting “love” with “community”. To me, that’s the Kingsport Spirit.

If you possess great knowledge, have many degrees, are fluent in many languages, and can explain how the world works, but don’t have love, it’s just noise. In other words, people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. I don’t know about you, but I could sure use a lot less noise these days—from social media, from mainstream media, and from influencers.

If I give up my time, talent, and resources to charitable causes only to boast about it, I gain nothing without community. It’s not about me, it’s about we.

“Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not arrogant, is not rude, is not self-seeking, is not irritable, and does not keep a record of wrongs. Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

I’m guilty of keeping a mental scorecard of who’s done me wrong. I think many of us do. But it only increases irritability and steals my joy.

^“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things.”

We seem to be inundated with childish behavior, fanned by flames of false narratives, partial truths, and party lines. And to be clear, I’m talking about both sides of the aisle.

That’s a note to self that I should think before I act, study before I speak, and seek wisdom from my creator before pitching a public tantrum on social media that cannot be retracted after I calm down, when cooler heads prevail.

I try not to hate anybody. I don’t think I do. And I try to patiently listen to differing viewpoints. And oftentimes I reach a completely different conclusion than someone else who heard the same thing I did. But that’s the process of discernment.

If it’s the job of appointed managers to build faith in government, and elected officials to give hope, then it’s up to the rest of us to build community (love).

Having said that, love is often overused and misunderstood.

I am taught that love is an act of will. We are commanded to love our enemies, which would be impossible if love were merely emotional. It is a decision to act for another’s good, even when affection is absent. Y’all means all, as the Southern saying goes.

Biblical love is not temporary enthusiasm. It “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” and “never fails.”

Throughout the United States, there are several Bristols, Johnson Citys, Knoxvilles, and Nashvilles, but there’s only one Kingsport.

What sets us apart is not government efficiency, it’s the Kingsport Spirit—something as distinctive as our city’s name.

It’s what elevates our city from good to great.

It’s what takes the Dobyns-Bennett High School marching band from a socially diverse, economically challenged group of student musicians and turns it into a national powerhouse that consistently punches above its weight.

In a city that’s 90% white, it’s what elects a black mayor citywide based on the content of character, not the color of skin.

It’s what elected a black alderman shortly after the civil rights movement, elevated him to vice mayor, and re-elected him for 24 years—until he chose to retire.

It’s why we’re the only city in our region that has popularly elected two female mayors, one of whom also served as county commissioner, state representative, and state senator. Other cities appointed female mayors from within their own boards, rather than electing them at large.

It’s why not only natives, but newcomers, have been elected at large to serve on the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

It’s why our high school has a thriving program that includes all students—pairing each participant with a buddy—so they can build relationships, better understand one another, participate in sports, cheer, dance, and other activities, and learn what life after the school years can look like.

It’s why our high school’s recent homecoming queen and king reflected different cultural backgrounds in a student body that is majority white. Again, it’s not about race or ethnicity, but the content of character.

It’s why contributions to our United Way are often double or triple those of our neighbors.

It’s why Fun Fest is a cherished community tradition that works only because of the commitment of volunteers and corporate sponsors, not ticket sales.

It’s why the Santa Train just completed its 83^rd year.

It’s why a French war bride who found her way to Kingsport after World War II has volunteered for Meals on Wheels for nearly half a century—and is still serving as she approaches her 90th birthday.

I’m currently reading a book called “Living Fearless” by Jamie Winship. It’s about finding your identity, the one naturally given to you by your creator. Then tapping into that ‘super power’ and becoming the truest version of yourself. It’s often identifiable when you’re a child. For me, I used to sit for hours drawing fictitious cities, carefully labeling the streets, parks, and public spaces.

Parents and counselors tried to push me towards financially lucrative career choices like science and engineering. I had the ability to do those subjects, but I didn’t enjoy them. I got decent grades, but not stellar. Once I found my zone in writing, geography, history, and city planning, my grades were near perfect. Not because I was trying to be perfect, I just loved what I was doing so much that it came naturally. I was able to experience a fulfilling career in city planning and city management, bought a house, provided for my family, got both kids through college (helping them embrace their unique identity), and now, upon retirement, look back with 20/20 vision like, “I see what you did there, God.”

We’re all endowed by our creator with unique talents and purpose. I can’t wait to finish the book. I noticed on the Downtown Kingsport Association’s board membership list, I’m titled “community advocate”. In retirement, I struggle to introduce myself. I didn’t realize how much we define ourselves by titles. Technically, I have a part-time job for Visit Kingsport, but it doesn’t define who I am. I don’t always want to refer to myself as “former city manager” either. I’m still going! After writing this article, I like DKA’s description best. Other than child of God, husband, or dad, it’s my most cherished identity.