There’s a personal story I return to often when thinking about how we grow — how our focus sharpens with time and practice, how what once felt overwhelming becomes second nature.
Before my current work in philanthropy, I spent two decades as a musician, often leading music in faith communities. It all started at the University of Northern Colorado with Cru, a student-led campus ministry. Each Friday night, I’d lead a group of volunteers, pulling together a band to accompany the songs we’d sing as a community.
Tim Coons (Courtesy photo)At first, I wasn’t very good at it. At all. There was so much to manage: keeping steady rhythm on my guitar, guiding musicians with varying levels of experience, encouraging the crowd in song, and somehow — while juggling all that — staying connected to the meaning of the music itself. It was a mess. I was a mess.
But over time, something shifted. It took several years, but my vision adjusted, like eyes acclimating to a dark room. Where once I could only concentrate on a few parts, things started to come into focus as a whole. I could anticipate or readily respond to what was happening — when a drummer arrived in the pocket, an off-key harmony to adjust, even the flicker of confusion in the crowd when there was a typo on the lyrics screen. I was tuned in.
That’s how attention works. We don’t just see more — we see differently, more clearly. A mother in a noisy playground can recognize her child’s cry instantly while the rest of us hear only background noise. A seasoned teacher can sense the precise moment a student is about to disengage. The quote from John C. Maxwell rings true: What we focus on expands.
For the last several years, at the Weld Community Foundation, I’ve been focused on community. It’s not something I always paid close attention to, but our mission — to strengthen the bonds that make our communities thrive — has made me attuned to it. The same can be said of our staff. Over time, we’ve developed an ear for it, like musicians picking up a strong melody.
So now, I see it everywhere. I hear it in stories, in small gestures, in the way people show up for one another. At some point, I even started keeping a list — a simple note on my phone, filled with moments that felt sacred and good.
Let me offer one such recent moment:
A few weeks ago, John and Delia Haefeli stopped by our office with a few questions about one of their endowments. If you’ve spent time in Greeley, you likely know the Haefelis. Between them, they’ve dedicated 76 years to teaching and coaching in our schools. Years ago, they established an endowment at the Weld Community Foundation in partnership with the Success Foundation, an incredible organization that supports District 6 schools.
They call this endowment the Opportunity Fund, and it’s exactly that — a way to give students opportunities they might not otherwise have. The fund provides individual grants of up to $500, closing equity gaps and removing financial barriers. Over the years, it has covered home Wi-Fi costs during COVID, helped students pay for AP test fees, and even replaced worn-out musical instruments for kids who couldn’t afford new ones.
As we sat together, John shared stories about what first inspired them to create the fund. He spoke of his years at Greeley West High School, where teachers quietly took it upon themselves to make sure students had what they needed to succeed. Some pooled money to help cover costs. One teacher regularly brought homemade meals so no one went hungry.
The conversation with the Haefelis was simple — just a routine check-in — but as we listened, my colleagues and I recognized something familiar. That quiet, steady hum of goodness. The kind we’ve become attuned to noticing. Once again, we found ourselves on sacred ground.
A quick aside: One reason I bring this up is because, right now, the world is loud. Media, political pundits — everyone competing for our attention, often for reasons that serve themselves. Sometimes, we need to turn down the noise, like when you switch off the radio so you can focus on finding the right turn.
It makes me wonder: What if we all paid a little more attention to the real, tangible good happening in our communities? Not in some abstract sense, but the true, daily occurrences right here, in our own backyard? Because when you start looking for it, you see it everywhere. The more you engage with it, the clearer it becomes. And such a vision may even encourage us to greater join in the song.
This is the music playing beneath the surface of our local lives — the quiet, persistent rhythm of generosity, care, and connection. What a gift it is to pause, listen in, and truly hear it.
Tim Coons is president/CEO of the Weld Community Foundation, a nonprofit that helps donors create charitable funds which strengthen our community through grants, scholarships, and program support. He loves the question, “What does it mean to be a true community?” info@weldcommunityfoundation.org
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Opinion: Tim Coons: Where are you giving your attention? )
Also on site :