From now on, brothers and sisters, if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8

Photo Friday this week tells the story that Christmas is absolutely on its way, via the lights and the people who shine just as brightly.

It really is the good folk who live here who light up this community, and we have enjoyed the company of some of Tarboro’s most charming in a series of events over the past week.

This is why I led with the quote from Philippians 4:8, because focusing on the excellent, the admirable, the true, the holy, the pure and the lovely is not only the Way of Jesus, but also a great recipe for dinner-party conversation. And it certainly applies to all the good people we have had the pleasure of being with over this past, busy, week.

Our “dining out” hitting streak actually started Thanksgiving Day, with feasts at two Tarboro homes. Then, Friday evening we supped at Rebekah’s brother’s home in Jacksonville. Saturday was the big Alexander holiday celebration. Sunday we stopped in Georgia for dinner with the newly elected mayor in Newington. Monday we enjoyed pizza at Mama’s with the Brittains and the Connettes. Tuesday’s party was a huge gathering at the Creech home to mark our friend Jerome’s 70th. Wednesday we simply strolled over to the church for the potluck Christmas Dinner.

Then Thursday Rebekah and I walked up Saint Patrick Street and across the Town Common with our friends David and Lillie, where we enjoyed the hospitality of Mears and Courtney Pitt for the Rotary Club’s Holiday Dinner.

Mears – whose family owns and operates Tarboro’s Ace Home Center – is the newly elected Town Council representative for District 5. Courtney works as a speech-language pathologist. As hosts, they are both gracious and welcoming.

That adds up to nine celebratory meals in eight locations over eight days! Good grief I’m surprised I can even move without the help of a wheelbarrow to put my belly in!

It’s one thing to drive around the historic district and admire the lights and decorations of some of these classic homes – but a whole other layer of lovely when we have the opportunity to walk in through the front door and see what’s inside. It’s like opening a window on the Advent calendar and then realizing it is actually a portal to another world.

Inside we recognized a few familiar faces, but we also enjoyed the opportunity to meet and to talk with a wonderful selection of people for the first time.

Our hosts (and many of the other guests) are longtime Tarboro residents with a long family history in the community. Yet – and this has been consistent in our experience – we sense none of the “outsider” or exclusive vibe that often comes with historic communities.

This is the Christmas Season; the lights are shining; the people are gracious and generous; may peace and promise reign in all of our hearts – DEREK