A Two-fer

Bobby Burns observed that the "best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray."  My plan for All Saints Day was to visit a number of libraries.  But first, I paid a call on a widow in my Church who was having surgery.  The procedure scheduled for 9:00 a.m. did not commence until nearly 11:00 so I was delayed in starting my journey.  I do not begrudge the time I spent with this dear woman and her family nor the time spent by the medical personnel preparing to do the delicate work of surgery.

After leaving the hospital, I traveled to Salisbury to visit three very fine academic institutions.  Between me and Salisbury was a horrendous wreck involving two tractor-trailer trucks.  Interstate traffic was snarled so I left the highway to try to find a less congested path.  Fortunately, that path led me by Gary's, a favorite restaurant in Kannapolis.  Since I couldn't get to my first sop before lunch time, I stopped at Gary's.





The first stop in Salisbury was Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.  The library there is in transition.  Their director, Tony Lippard left to go to another school and in his place is Lisa Shores, the acting director.  The woman in charge of acquiring the books is Kathy Fountain who is a cheerful a person as I've ever met.
 

Just across the interstate highway is Hood Theological Seminary.  When I visited in the summer, the director was not there but this day I found Jess Bellemer just returning from lunch.  A window near the door had a most intricate design and I commented on its beauty.  Jess informed me it had shattered under extreme temperature but not broken.  I note that there is a sermon illustration in there somewhere.






Catawba College was my third and final stop of this shortened day.  There I met Steve McKenzie who directs the fine library on the campus.  There is a great contrast between the traditional architecture of the outside of the building and the very modern and scholar-friendly inside of the building.

Because of my late start, I was unable to complete my itinerary so I returned home and hatched a plan to finish the next morning.

Each month I meet with a life-long friend for personal and spiritual accountability.  We share our lives and encourage each other to "finish on fire."  Meeting him was on my way to Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs.  After our meeting, I continued to GWU and found Laurie Bumgardner. When I had visited in the summer, they were receiving the holdings of a branch campus that had closed.  That work had been completed and the library was bigger ad better than ever.  Laurie introduced me to the reference librarian, Dr. Pam Dennis.  Dr. Dennis told me that for the two weeks before the end of the semester, the library stays open 24 hour a day with two librarians present.  That kind of sacrifice shows the devotion these people have to the students they serve.    

I only visit a few public libraries but one of them is in my former hometown of Gastonia.  The Library was abuzz with activity because it is a site for "early voting."  There was a long line of people entering the library to cast their ballot.  I commend voting to everyone on (or before) November 8th. Inside, I met my old friend, Bob Biggers who works at the front desk and he brought Jane Kayler, the acquisitions director to me.  Jane shares a last name with a dear friend of mine but, try as we might, we were not able to establish a connection.

My final visit for this second shortened day was at the oldest Catholic University in the South, Belmont Abbey.  Sharon Bolger is in charge of getting books and I found her hard at work at the front desk.  She serves an eclectic mix of students seeking a bachelor's degree and Catholic scholars from the Abbey.

Thus ended my second shortened day.  But two halves seem to have made a whole day.  I wonder how often I fail to achieved what's possible because I can't achieve what I'd planned.

It was like a dream

Did you ever have one of those frustrating dreams where you were supposed to be somewhere and you couldn't quite get there as one thing after another prohibited you?  Well that's the way my latest trip seemed.

I started very early to make a return visit to Barton College in Wilson.  I left in plenty of time (according to my faithful guide) but there was construction in Winston-Salem and traffic in Greensboro and a horrible accident near Durham, all of which caused delays.  I watched as my ETA got closer and closer to the appointed time.  Finally, I called the Director of the library to let him know I'd be late for our appointment.  I got his voicemail!   Not knowing if he wouldlisten to his messages, I pressed on and arrived a few minutes after our appointment was scheduled. 

My purpose was to meet the Director, George Loveland and to discuss ways to streamline his ordering and cataloging procedure.  He told me that my earlier visit was during "FAST Week" when faculty and staff meet to plan the year's activities.  George and I have something in common--we both pastor two small churches.  George has just begun his ministerial training with a year at Hood Theological Seminary.  His wife, Tuck, is also a pastor and an Assistant District Superintendent.  I would have enjoyed spending the day learning from this humble leader but we had to get down to business.  I look forward to meeting with the rest of his team near the end of September.


By the time I reached my next stop, it was noon and time for lunch.  I checked for local eateries and found Shorty's Hot Dogs but when I drove by, the line was out the door.  So I went to a little place called "The Burger Shop."  It featured hand-made burgers servedwith a multitude of free toppings.  They also had fresh-squeezed lemonade.  I took my meal outside because the weather had changed dramatically for the better.  Seated at an outdoor table, I was immediately beset by a plague of the most aggressive flies I've ever seen!  Usually, a simple "shoo" will cause a fly to flee but not so with these insects.  They were houseflies with attitudes. 

My next stop was Southeastern Baptist Theoligical Seminary in the town of Wake Forest.  Wake Forest University is a fine institution begun by the Southern Baptist Convention and is located in Winston-Salem.  WFU began in the town of Wake Forest in 1834 and moved to Winston-Salem in 1956.  SBTS began in 1951 on the property which housed WFU.  It has grown and expanded over the years.  My best friend, Hank Williams (no not THAT Hank Williams), received his doctorate from SBTS and one of his sons is a current student in the Master's program there.  At SBTS, I met Steve Frary.  Steve has worked there for 18 years.  He clearly has the mission of the school in his heart.



Vance-Granville Community College is located in Henderson.  It is a beautiful

campus covered in shady hardwoods.  Almost every parking spot is "primo" because it's under a shade tree.  The library is part of a beautiful "quad" with benches and planters.  Elaine Stem is the director but she was hurrying to a meeting with school administrators so our conversation was very brief.

I suppose it's a good thing I did not tarry.  Most of the rest of my next journey was behind a fully-loaded logging truck on a curvy two-lane road.  I arrived very near the end of the day.

Wentworth is the home of Rockingham Community College.  There is a town in south-central North Carolina called Rockingham but it is in Richmond County.  I was interested in the connection so I did a little digging and discovered the town of Rockingham was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham and British Prime Minister from 1765 to 1766 and again in 1782.  Apparently,Wentworth took it's name from the same man and the county was thus named "Rockingham."  Mary Gomez is the director of the Library.

Travel was frustrating on this day.  But on the way home it occurred to me that in my brother's day, the distances I had covered would have been impossible in an entire week and the fact that I made the entire trip safely, met new friends and enjoyed beautiful weather was reason enough to give thanks.  And who knows, perhaps I learned some patience from my "bad dream."

Goings and Comings

With great sadness I announce the demise of my guide and traveling companion, Zelda G.P.S.Tomtom. Zelda served me and others faithfully (if not always cheerfully--she could become a bit testy at times) guiding us to our appointed destinations. She suffered a "bug" of some sort when rendered her useless since she no longer contained a map of the United States. Despite numerous attempts to revive her, she was unable to recover. I will miss her Easter European accent telling me where to turn and to "be careful." My new assistant does not have the personality of Zelda but is quite accurate and more patient with me.

By contrast, it is with great gladness that I announce that I have a new ride. My old Chevy Tracker developed an expensive problem and thrift suggested I not invest more money in repairs. Some very good friends (Jack and Bart), who's names sound like they came out of an old western, found an excellent vehicle which I think suits my personality.

My first stop was at another of the Old North State's community colleges. Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury serves students from the surrounding counties by being conveniently located just off the Interstate highway. I have extended family members who live in that area and have attended that school. Both of the librarians I needed to see were away but I was greeted by Lisa Shores who grew up in nearby China Grove.

Just on the other side of the interstate was Hood Theological Seminary. Because it is located behind the Offices of the Lutheran Synod offices, I assumed it was a seminary for training Lutheran Pastors. I was delighted to learn that HTS has her roots in my brother's movement! "Founded and sponsored by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (A.M.E. Zion) Church, the Seminary has a special—but not exclusive—interest in training those who minister with and among historically marginalized communities, and those who work in a pastoral or secular capacity during their seminary education. The African American church’s historic insistence on recognizing the social, political, economic, and global implications of the gospel, the A.M.E. Zion identity as the “Freedom Church,” and the Methodist focus on scriptural holiness with personal and social responsibility shape the emphases in the theological curriculum." "The Seminary bears the name of a renowned bishop of the denomination, James Walker Hood, who inspired others in the denomination to join with him in creating an institution for the training of Negro youths for the Christian ministry. In 1879 those pioneers created the Zion Wesley Institute in Concord, NC. Three years later, by invitation of the citizens of Salisbury, they relocated the Institute to this city. Under the leadership of its first president, Dr. Joseph Charles Price, the Institute was chartered by the State of North Carolina in 1887 and renamed Livingstone College in honor of Scottish physician and explorer of central and southern Africa, Dr. David Livingstone. Livingstone College is located just around the corner.

A few miles away is Catawba College. In the early days of our nation's history, German settlers from Eastern Pennsylvania traveled to Piedmont North Carolina to live. They brought with them a strong Reformed heritage and a desire to see their young people educated. At first they sent their young back north for school but in 1851, they opened Catawba College in nearby Newton. The school was named for the native Americans who lived in the area. In 1925, the school relocated to Salisbury and affiliated with the Church of Christ.

I then traveled north to the city of High Point to Laurel University. Laurel began as a Bible College in nearby Greensboro and changed it's name to "John Wesley College" when it moved to High Point. Just a few days ago, the school's trustees voted to change it's name BACK to "John Wesley." I know nothing of "why" but it makes me proud to see my brother's name on any institution of higher learning.

Winston-Salem is an odd pairing. "Salem" comes from the Moravian community and "Winston" is the name of a cigarette. Salem College is located in the heart of "Old Salem" which is both a historic preservation of the early days of the Moravians as well as the current "mother Church" for Moravians in the area. On Easter, the town welcomes guests by the thousands to a "Sunrise Service" which features a brass band and a commemoration of the Resurrection at "God's Acre"--the Moravian Cemetery. As an historic site, the buildings have been preserved but the Salem College Library is a modern facility on the inside of one of those preserved buildings. Peter Austin is in charge of acquisitions and is a native of the Asheville area where I used to live. I regret that I did not take a picture while at Salem College. It is a beautiful and historic campus.

While watching the Republican National Convention this week, I heard the woman who announced the NC delegate count say that there were more Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) in North Carolina than any other state. There are twelve. HBCU's are schools founded before 1964 primarily to serve the black community. One such University was my next stop, Winston-Salem State University. It is located, appropriately, on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and from what I could see, serves a diverse student body. It is a beautiful campus with wide pedestrian mall. Neither of the directors were present but everyone in the library was very helpful.

Lunch was a serendipitous event. As I was leaving the WSSU campus, I saw a hot dog vendor. I circled the block to meet Frank of Frank's Frankfurters. He served two Nathan's hot dogs with the kind of slaw that has both mayonnaise and mustard in it. Delicious!

My final stop was in Surry County at the Surry Community College in the town of Dobson. The drive from Winston-Salem to Dobson approaches a picturesque view of Pilot Mountain. Pilot Mountain and nearby Mount Airy are famous as both the real hometown and the setting for Andy Griffith's television show. Once again, both of the directors I needed to see were away (it is, after all, still summer and classes are not in session). The two people working in the library were most helpful, including Maria who hails from Columbia. As I drove home I reflected on the people who started these institutions I visit. All of them understood the value of education for both sustainability and progress.