A Very Good Day

As is the case with most jobs, some days are better than others.  My travel today was a very good day.

I began where I left off last week at McDowell Technical Community College.  Pat Tallent had told me last week that the Director, Sharon Smith was more likely to be found at the library in the morning.  So MTCC was my first call of the day.  Sharon Smith is the Director of the library and has served in that position for many years.  I soon learned that Sharon and I were from the same town and we spent some time reminiscing and catching up on mutual acquaintances.  I also learned that she is a very active Methodist (my brother’s tribe) and has served her Church locally and at the denominational level.

My next stop was at Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton.  When I was last there, Director Nancy Daniel was in a small room with only a few books because the library was being renovated.  On this trip I was able to see both the fruit of that renovation and the work that goes into such a task.  The Library is beautiful and is clearly a source of pride to Ms. Daniel.  She stopped her work to show me around.  During our brief tour, I saw the rooms that will house the collection of both books and memorabilia of the late Senator Sam Ervin.  My one concern about the building is that one wall (the one facing the mountains) is entirely glass.  I’m not sure I could get much studying done if that were my view!  On the floor were hundreds of boxes of yet-unpacked books.  The task of renovating a library is huge but the reward will be well worth the effort.

Lenoir Rhyne is a university located in Hickory.  It was begun by the Lutherans and has held a

prestigious place in North Carolina education since its founding in 1891.  The Director is Rita Johnson whose dog, Bayla greeted me the last visit.  Bayla had not accompanied Ms. Johnson to school on this day, however.  Lenoir Rhyne has had an increase in enrollment for the past eight years and is preparing to offer its first doctoral level degree program. Much of the credit (according to Ms. Johnson) goes to retiring president, Dr. Wayne B. Powell

As I was leaving, I mentioned that my next stop was at nearby Catawba Valley Community College.  Ms. Johnson said, “Say hello to Staci for me.”  “Staci” is Staci Wilson, director of the library.  When I visited earlier, she was in a meeting and I missed her once again.  Fortunately, CVCC is near to where I live so I will be able to call again easily. 

In the lobby of the building was a civic-minded woman registering students to vote.  My commendation for her efforts led to a conversation in which it was clear that her motivation was born of a passionate desire to see one of the four candidates elected.  Although she and I do not agree on which candidate should be elected, I am glad she is encouraging people to register and to vote.  I do not agree with those who think abstaining from voting in the current presidential election is somehow the “moral high ground” because of the character of the candidates.  I, too, wish we had a better choice.  But we don’t and choosing a leader is both a right and a responsibility of a free people.

Climbing off my soap box I proceeded toward Wilkesboro and Wilkes Community College.  On the way, I stopped in Oxford for lunch at Sigmon’s Grill.  My brother attended college at Oxford, but that Oxford is in England.  Lunch was a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich served by waitresses who seemed to know every person who entered the restaurant.  The meal was delicious but I was reminded that the season of fresh tomatoes is past.

Wilkes Community College is built on the side of a mountain and I discovered a geological marvel.  It was “uphill” both going and coming to my car!  Rebecca Krueger is in charge of the collection at WCC and while I was waiting for her, I talked with her staff about how GPS-enabled devices have made us “lazy” directionally.  I’m sure my brother would find a sermon illustration in that statement somehow.

My final stop was in Dobson at Surry Community College where I met Dr. David Wright.  He’d been gone when I’d visited the library during the summer and I had looked forward to meeting him because of his expertise in Community Colleges.  He is extremely knowledgeable of both the people and the programs employed by North Carolina’s fifty-eight Community Colleges. 

Driving home, I discovered another physical anomaly.  Whether driving “south” on I-77 or “west” on I-40, the sun was in my eyes!  As I write this, it is raining.  Life is made up of sunny days and rainy days and both are good for us. 

A Very Good Day

As is the case with most jobs, some days are better than others.  My travel today was a very good day.

I began where I left off last week at McDowell Technical Community College.  Pat Tallent had told me last week that the Director, Sharon Smith was more likely to be found at the library in the morning.  So MTCC was my first call of the day.  Sharon Smith is the Director of the library and has served in that position for many years.  I soon learned that Sharon and I were from the same town and we spent some time reminiscing and catching up on mutual acquaintances.  I also learned that she is a very active Methodist (my brother’s tribe) and has served her Church locally and at the denominational level.

My next stop was at Western Piedmont Community College in Morganton.  When I was last there, Director Nancy Daniel was in a small room with only a few books because the library was being renovated.  On this trip I was able to see both the fruit of that renovation and the work that goes into such a task.  The Library is beautiful and is clearly a source of pride to Ms. Daniel.  She stopped her work to show me around.  During our brief tour, I saw the rooms that will house the collection of both books and memorabilia of the late Senator Sam Ervin.  My one concern about the building is that one wall (the one facing the mountains) is entirely glass.  I’m not sure I could get much studying done if that were my view!  On the floor were hundreds of boxes of yet-unpacked books.  The task of renovating a library is huge but the reward will be well worth the effort.

Lenoir Rhyne is a university located in Hickory.  It was begun by the Lutherans and has held a

prestigious place in North Carolina education since its founding in 1891.  The Director is Rita Johnson whose dog, Bayla greeted me the last visit.  Bayla had not accompanied Ms. Johnson to school on this day, however.  Lenoir Rhyne has had an increase in enrollment for the past eight years and is preparing to offer its first doctoral level degree program. Much of the credit (according to Ms. Johnson) goes to retiring president, Dr. Wayne B. Powell

As I was leaving, I mentioned that my next stop was at nearby Catawba Valley Community College.  Ms. Johnson said, “Say hello to Staci for me.”  “Staci” is Staci Wilson, director of the library.  When I visited earlier, she was in a meeting and I missed her once again.  Fortunately, CVCC is near to where I live so I will be able to call again easily. 

In the lobby of the building was a civic-minded woman registering students to vote.  My commendation for her efforts led to a conversation in which it was clear that her motivation was born of a passionate desire to see one of the four candidates elected.  Although she and I do not agree on which candidate should be elected, I am glad she is encouraging people to register and to vote.  I do not agree with those who think abstaining from voting in the current presidential election is somehow the “moral high ground” because of the character of the candidates.  I, too, wish we had a better choice.  But we don’t and choosing a leader is both a right and a responsibility of a free people.

Climbing off my soap box I proceeded toward Wilkesboro and Wilkes Community College.  On the way, I stopped in Oxford for lunch at Sigmon’s Grill.  My brother attended college at Oxford, but that Oxford is in England.  Lunch was a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich served by waitresses who seemed to know every person who entered the restaurant.  The meal was delicious but I was reminded that the season of fresh tomatoes is past.

Wilkes Community College is built on the side of a mountain and I discovered a geological marvel.  It was “uphill” both going and coming to my car!  Rebecca Krueger is in charge of the collection at WCC and while I was waiting for her, I talked with her staff about how GPS-enabled devices have made us “lazy” directionally.  I’m sure my brother would find a sermon illustration in that statement somehow.

My final stop was in Dobson at Surry Community College where I met Dr. David Wright.  He’d been gone when I’d visited the library during the summer and I had looked forward to meeting him because of his expertise in Community Colleges.  He is extremely knowledgeable of both the people and the programs employed by North Carolina’s fifty-eight Community Colleges. 

Driving home, I discovered another physical anomaly.  Whether driving “south” on I-77 or “west” on I-40, the sun was in my eyes!  As I write this, it is raining.  Life is made up of sunny days and rainy days and both are good for us. 

A Slight Delay

The venerable Bobby Burns said in his poem, "To a Mouse":  “The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”  We ordinary English-speakers have adapted that line to say:  "The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry."  Such was the case last week. There were four schools I had not yet visited and they were in a near straight line toward the Coast.  My "best-laid plan" was to visit them on my way to a conference of my brother's tribe I was attending last week.  Thus I would, as J. Morgan Ghent wrote in 1632, "kill two birds with one stone."  However, as John Donne wrote in "No Man Is An Island," the bell tolled for a dear friend and I was privileged to attend her homegoing celebration.  She was a dear lady who gave of herself freely and has now received her reward.


I suspect that is quite enough googled literary references for this lifetime.  So I will, as Judge Jesse would say, "cease and desist.

I left immediately following the service for the conference where I spent three days under the instruction of a convictional professor from Indiana and in the company of men and women whose lives are devoted to serving others and sharing the Good News of the Gospel.  It was, needless to say, a worthwhile three days.


I had to return home for responsibilities on Wednesday night so on Thursday morning, I retraced my steps beginning in the town of Hamlet at the Richmond County Community College.  Carolyn Bittle is the Dean of the Library there and,as has been the case so often, she was working at the information desk.  These community college deans and directors are far from administrators alone.  They are all working librarians.  I believe it is, at least in part, because they love books and the people who read them.

My next stop was in Laurinburg at St. Andrews University where I met Mary MacDonald.  I wondered if everyone who worked at a University named after the birthplace of golf in Scotland had to have highlander names.  But on their faculty directory I found names from Austin to Wojtasik so I guest they allow non-Scots to teach.  There was one swimming coach named Burns and eight professors whose names began with "Mc" or "Mac."  Needless to say, the school is proud of it's Scottish heritage.  St. Andrews was founded by the Presbyterian Church and is the product of a merger of an all-male and an all-female school.  They have recently become a campus of Webber International University in Florida and each summer, they host the Governor's School for gifted and talented high school students in North Carolina.  St. Andrews also has a world-class equestrian program.  In addition to many competitive equestrian championships, the school offers a degree in therapeutic riding and preparations for vet school.  My brother rode a horse for much of his ministerial career though I don't believe he ever went to school to learn how.


My next stop was at Bladen Community College near Dublin.  Dublin.  St. Andrews.  Are you seeing a theme here?  The early settlers of this area were from Scotland and Ireland and traveled up the Cape Fear River. It was lunch time so I stopped in at a restaurant named Dowless and Co. in Dublin.  Being unfamiliar with the area, I pulled into the wrong entrance.  It was, however, a fortunateerror because I saw behind the restaurant a man standing at a cooker.  He signaled the direction I should go and after paring in the correct lot, I walked walked around back to meet Lennox the Pit Master for Dowless.  Lennox opened the cooker long enough for me to see about eight pork shoulders which looked ready to eat.  Lennox's experience, however, said they needed another "three hours."  Inside, I found the special of the day to be country-style steak which I ordered with cabbage, field peas and cornbread.  Delicious!  Dublin is in the heart of "peanut country" and the residents were gearing up for the annual peanut festival which began on Saturday.  Sherwin Rice is the director of the library at Bladen CC and is rightfully proud of the work being done by her school for the community.


My final stop was in Whiteville at Southeastern Community College.   Kay Houser is the Director of the library and we had a long conversation about both the changes occurring in libraries and education in general as well as our families.  The day following my visit was Constitution Day.  Kay had made a most-creative window display to celebrate the day.

Speaking of the Constitution, I would like to make a political statement although I am, myself, an undocumented alien:  The next President of the United States will likely appoint three or four justices to the US Supreme Court.  Those appointments will affect the future direction of this country for generations to come.  Please choose wisely. As the Grail Knight said to Indiana Jones:  "You must choose but choose wisely."