You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. – 2 Corinthians 3:2-3

I don’t do New Year’s Resolutions. It’s not that I have no ambition to improve so much as that I understand there are better vehicles for making progress.

Resolutions tend to set us up for disappointment. I prefer the idea of “intentions” that set us on a beneficial path – and I have several for 2026.

One is that I intend to make measurable progress each week toward completing and publishing my new book, and also that I will be several chapters into whatever comes next by the summer.

Another is that I will do a better job of capturing the essence of Tarboro in photographs. One intention for 2026 is to work toward producing a month-by-month photo-journal that tells our story in pictures.

Another sense of direction for me over the coming twelve months is that I want my faith and my commitment to follow Jesus to speak for itself in a way that tells the Good News story with authenticity and integrity. I want my life to be God’s invitation home.

Hence my choice of scripture for today’s post. “We are God’s letter… known and read by everyone…”

Then, Photo-Friday:

Today’s collection of images offers sunrise photographs over the Tar River, a couple of downtown buildings (one that has been nicely renovated and one that is – hopefully – in the beginning stages), as well as a few gems from my favorite eatery, On the Square.

May your 2026 be less a resolution to be checked-off and more an invitation into wholeness – DEREK