Almost 10 years ago, I spoke with an acquaintance who had recently lost a family member.

As I paid my respects, he said to me, “Thank you for tending to your flock.” This caught me off guard, and I don’t really remember much else of the moment.

Before I share the decade worth of thoughts that have gone into this statement, I will share a few moments from the last week serving as mayor of the best city in the world.

During the April 12, council meeting, members approved to refund a bond for Water Pollution Control. While most have forgotten about this, it has still been worked on by several within the city. Final documents have been signed and will be processed to allow us to save around $800,000 over the remainder of the bond.

It is the moments like this that I am thankful for those whose job it is to tend to the day-to-day operations of our city.

The first concert in the CityJam series is completed, and it was great seeing a good crowd out and about enjoying the live music at Crossroads Community Park. Thanks to the partnerships with organizations like Seymour Main Street that make Seymour more lively and create many choices of things to do.

Speaking of partnerships, we finally got to cut the ribbon on our newest green space located next to the John Mellencamp mural at Second Street and Indianapolis Avenue. This space was created by a donation from the Mellencamp family and a lot of work by the city team to keep it within budget.

Along with cutting the ribbon, we dedicated the space to Seymour’s own music historian, Larry McDonald, who enjoyed telling stories when visitors from around the world would visit the mural.

I have carried “Thank you for tending to your flock” with me for almost a decade. The person who said it to me has since become someone I would consider a friend. While I have never rehashed that moment with him, I have shared it with his daughter.

We all have a passion for whatever it is. Whatever it is changes from person to person and really from time to time. At that time, my passion was running a small business and building relationships with the many customers that shared my interests.

The flock he was referring to were teenage skaters whom many didn’t give the time of day. I always treated them how I would want to be treated, and we had some wonderful conversations full of laughs.

I may not have always said what they wanted to hear, but I tried to say what they needed to hear. As time has gone by, my flock has grown. Some have left us too soon. Others have families and are working hard to make ends meet. Throw in some business owners and you have a really good cross-section of our community who all shared a common interest years ago.

Now I mentioned that I had shared this comment with his daughter, and when I did, I encouraged her to find her flock, find the one thing that she was passionate about and work toward it.

If she did so, she would more than likely find her flock of similar people looking to make at least our little piece of the world a better place for all. I am happy to report she has done just that and has found her flock, as well, and is thriving in her role.

Persian poet Rumi said, “Be a lamp, or a lifeboat, or a ladder. Help someone’s soul heal. Walk out of your house like a shepherd.”

Whatever it is that you are called to be, I hope you will be it. Be a lamp and enlighten someone that is in need. Be that lifeboat during someone’s struggles or even the ladder that helps them back up when they are down. Tend to your flock and help build the future you wish to see for all.

Matt Nicholson is the mayor of Seymour. Send comments to [email protected].