LAWS OF PHYSICS

What do the laws of physics have to do with rebuilding rural America? Well, when you look at Newton's laws of motion, all you have to do is change one word, "object" to "community".

FOR EXAMPLE

A community (object) in motion remains in motion. A community (object) at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by an external force. Some communities seem to thrive, its in their DNA to grow. They recruit and incentivize business development. They build or update existing schools, provide daycare facilities, prioritize health care, and develop long-term plans for affordable housing.

Meanwhile, a community at rest just gets older and stays at rest. They don't want to change! We like our little community until the stores close, schools merge and relocate 20 miles away, young people leave due to lack of opportunities. Church pews are empty. The only new building built in the last twenty years is a funeral home. By the way, is doing just fine.

EXTERNAL FORCE

Unfortunately, some of these communities at rest get a rude awakening. A tornado, fire or flood destroys half the town. There is enough pride left that they don't want to lose the town. They start to rebuild. Soon a lumberyard moves to town. Construction workers, plumbers, electricians are busy rebuilding. Some of them choose to live there. Churches bring in new members, school buses are filling up, and businesses expand. There is even a new bank being built.

SUMMARY

If you're one of those communities at rest and no external force initiates change. It is only a matter of time when even the funeral home is forced to close.

Physics! Analogy!

April 2026