Tuesday, November 27, 2018

An Outsider Drinks the Water and Loves Calling Davidson County Home!


There’s an old legend that says back in the early days of Davidson County there was a well on Washington Square in Lexington.  (I don’t know why we dropped the name “Washington,” but I’m in favor of reclaiming it)  The story goes that if a stranger came to town and drank the water from the well, he would always return to Lexington.

        Almost 30 years ago I came to Lexington and drank the water—I’ve never left!  I love calling Davidson County home, although I am occasionally reminded that I’m really an “outsider.”  Evelyn Harris and I produced a big historical celebration for the City of Lexington back in 2003.  We were celebrating our 175th anniversary and Joe Sink, who was then Editor of the Dispatch, had secured a bunch of money from the New York Times to finance the festivities.  We were having a grand old time spending Joe’s money and the Civic Center was packed twice to witness a spectacular performance. 

        Not long after the event a lady stopped me in a store and in gushing terms told me how much she enjoyed the production.  Then she added, “It’s just a shame that an outsider had to come in to do something like that.”  Well, here’s an “outsider” who loves calling Davidson County home!

        Our county has one of the richest histories in the state.  Did you know that one of the early revolutionary movements in the American Colonies started here?  Benjamin Merrill led a large group of “Regulators” in protest to oppressive taxes by the British.  Merrill became an early martyr for freedom when he was executed by the British in 1771.  Four years later the town of Lexington was named by brave Patriots just weeks after the “Shot Heard Round the World” was fired.

        Did you know our county was a leader in race relations as far back as 1929 when the Davidson County Public Library became the first County Library in the entire south (not just the state, the entire south!) to open its doors to citizens of color?

        It is fitting that the most significant and distinguished landmark in our county is a historical treasure—our antebellum Courthouse.  Standing tall and proud, she is the shining light in our county, the symbol of our spirit, the herald of our history, and the visible declaration of our democracy. 

        Even greater than our rich history is our generous spirit.  I love calling Davidson County home because people truly care about others.  This is a community with a caring heart.  I’ve seen miracles great and small as Davidson County citizens have responded with generous hearts to Davidson Medical Ministries, the YMCA, Crisis Ministry, our Hospitals, the Community College, Cancer Services, the Hospice house, Pastor’s Pantry, our Children’s Homes, the United Way, and many more.  But by far the most amazing fundraising effort was the drive led by Ardell Lanier and Max Walser to build a chapel at the prison.  It was one of the worst times for our community economically, yet the true heart of our community emerged above every obstacle and conventional wisdom and today a beautiful chapel stands as a symbol of hope and forgiveness in the middle of our prison camp.

         There are times that living in Davidson County is like being in a Norman Rockwell painting, like stepping back in time, sampling a juicy slice of authentic Americana.  It happens every year in the third week of September at the Davidson County Agricultural Fair.  Where else can you find cows, horses, chickens, rabbits, pumpkins, pies, pickles, cakes, quilts, crafts, country ham, pinto beans, candied apples, babies, politicians, cotton candy, and a beauty pageant! 

        It happens every year on the 4th Saturday in October when close to 200,000 people descend on downtown Lexington to celebrate BBQ.  It happens every Friday night in the fall when high school bands play loud and proud and the football team runs on the field for another run at glory.  It happens on hot summer nights as a glorious sunset illuminates the sky above the baseball diamond while the crowd cheers their team and jeers the umpires.  It happens every summer when over 150 deserving children get to spend a week at Kamp Kiwanis thanks to the generosity of strangers.   

        Remember that old “outsider?”  Well, I get to bless the BBQ each year at the BBQ Festival, I get the take up tickets and work at the fair, and I get to share the joy of Kamp Kiwanis with those special children because I belong to the Kiwanis Club.  I have been privileged to serve on many of the committees and boards raising funds for caring agencies.  I was able to write a book on the rich history of our county and was honored to speak at the rededication of our historic antebellum Courthouse.  For over 10 years I broadcast American Legion Baseball games on hot summer nights and Lexington High football games on crisp football Friday nights with my dear friend, Harold Bowen.  And for almost three decades I have been able to share my thoughts and reflections through a monthly religion column in the Dispatch.  Not bad for an “outsider!” 

        And I didn’t even mention my day job.   My greatest joy is serving as the Senior Minister of the First Baptist Church of Lexington.  Did I tell you that I have been there almost 30 years?  This should not surprise you.  I’m only the third minister since the Second World War.  And guess what?  All three of us were “outsiders!”  But we did drink the water and that’s why we love calling Davidson County home!


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