Even when the bogeyman comes, the Southern people have a way of rallying around the Almighty God and bringing Him to your aid with their prayer and love that unlock his “grace.”

I am so deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy at Chimney Rock Village. I can remember it being the first place of fun that my Mom and Dad took my brother, sister and me. 

And it seemed that everyone there knew the Rev. Roland Edgerton. 

I can remember passing through there on the way to one of my Southern sojourns… stopping for some fried chicken, mashed potatoes, cabbage, cornbread and buttermilk — and a piece of sweet potato pie.

And when I tried to pay, being told, “H.K., it’s already been taken care of.”

And not to forget sitting there at the table, when a little white baby girl bolted from an adjacent table, jumped right up into my lap, throwing her arms around my neck and shouting...”Hello, Mr. Flag Man!”

Everybody in the whole place could do nothing but clap.

And not to forget, as I left the gas station after filling up that gas-guzzling car of mine; being told once again, that “its already paid for.” 

No need to say how difficult it is now to look at the devastation of Chinmey Rock Village in particular, and Western North Carolina in general — and hear the body count and hope that, somehow, the Almighty God had spared so many of my Southern-loving family, with some Northern ones thrown in, to boot. 

Yet I know that the Almighty God, in his grace, will fill their journey home with his love.

I don’t know if this debacle was an act tied to the bogeyman, or if it was a part of the Book of Revelation, spoken by God in the Christian Bible, to remind man that He is in charge.

I want to thank all of those who have shown me so many favors and so much kindness — and especially the prayers. 

And to those who have shouted out the rebel yell as I pass them by with the Southern Cross in hand — thanks!