They will be called oaks of righteousness,
Isaiah 61:3
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
One day soon (in my dreams) I will share a post featuring a game of golf where I not only had a great time but also played really well. You know, a smattering of pars and maybe even a rare birdie. But until something fundamental changes, I am going to have to content myself with simply having fun and enjoying the company of good people.
Given the choice I would always opt for the good people over the good round of golf – although I am sure that, theoretically, it is possible to have both.
That is what I want to comment on this morning – not the golf so much as the relationships. Landing here in Tarboro, Rebekah and I have been blessed in many ways, but I have to say that this community’s richest natural resource is its people.
It’s hard to quantify something like that, or put it on the Chamber of Commerce website, or include it in property listings. But Rebekah and I quite simply would not be here if all this town had going for it was the Common, the Tar, the extensive historic district and the charm.
We have made so many significant friendships already – people we know we can count on, people we love – that it’s hard to believe we have only been here a couple of years.
And, by the way, Tarboro would not be Tarboro without the longterm witness of the historic faith communities that anchor downtown. Community like this is rooted in faith, in love, and in service and it is sustained – watered – by the Spirit of God.
Some of the trees around the Town Common are more than 200 years old. But the faith, the grace and the promise that hold this place together? They are all timeless.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
