But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

Grace is the word:

Today is the 2nd Sunday in Advent, and my word for this week is “Grace.” It’s a great word because it defines both the work of Jesus and the character of this community.

This really is a remarkable experience, arriving in a new town with high expectations, and seeing those expectations exceeded on every level, day after day and in every way.

And it’s not that I am Pollyanna. Yes, I tend to frame things optimistically, but not in a way that steers me away from reality. The fact is that our first twelve days here in Tarboro have been positive, encouraging, affirming, and full with the best possible people.

Saturday turned out to be more of the same and then some.

First, I had the privilege of playing golf with three men from the church. And, while the golf was brutal, the day could not have been more enjoyable nor the company any better.

When I say “brutal” I mean we played the Benvenue Country Club in Rocky Mount. Benvenue is home to a classic Donald Ross course that toyed with me, gave me a little encouragement on the first nine, then utterly destroyed me coming in. But I loved every minute of it.

Later, in the evening, our friends David and Lillie took us to an “oyster bake” party out at the country estate of one of Tarboro’s leading citizens.

The event, hosted by the Wootens and the Mayos, featured great people, a (really good) live band, masses of food, the beautiful historic home, probably 200-plus people, and perfect evening weather of around 60-degrees. All this and more.

All Grace all the time:

So how does this day fit into an Advent post? Well, I have consistently hit my key word for the second week of Advent from pretty much every angle. Grace.

Gracious home. Gracious people. Grace received through the generosity of new friends. Not just generous but generosity of spirit. This is my theme for the second week of Advent.

Grace is a word that talks about how God deals with us, regardless of what we have done or what we deserve. Grace imagines that we are worthy of God’s love, and invites us in to experience God’s best.

Treating people with grace is very classy, very generous, and very Christlike. This town has shown a lot of love – a lot of grace – to me and to Rebekah.

Light, and Grace, the first two words for Advent. Also, coincidentally, our consistent experience of this delightful and generous town – DEREK