Where two or three are gathered …
The date is December 8, 2024. Our location is the small community of Creston in Ashe County, North Carolina. (In case you are not familiar with this area, Ashe County is in the far northwest corner of NC. It borders Virginia to the north and Tennessee to the west.) God’s country—that’s what you’ll hear most of the locals call it.
John and I are headed to Tennessee for a book signing at the Mountain City Pharmacy, and we’ve been forced to take a detour because HWY 421 is closed for repairs. It’s been over two months since Hurricane Helene ravaged this area, but still, not all roads are passable. The road on which we’re traveling frequently changes—without warning—from gravel to rock to dirt. And time and again, our pathway drops down to one lane.
John slows to a crawl so that we can better observe what we are witnessing. The destruction from the storm is unbelievable. Hillsides are covered with trees that have been toppled. Sheds that should be in someone’s backyard now sit at the edge of the road. Battered cars rest in small creeks and streams. Houses no longer sit on their foundations.
I’m holding my phone, but I can’t bring myself to take a picture of the hurricane’s aftermath because I don’t believe that any photo I take will do justice to what we’re seeing. For miles and miles, the view from our window remains unchanged.
And then, quite unexpectedly, John and I come upon this breathtaking mountain vista. No other vehicles are in sight, and I ask John to stop the car. I roll down the window and take several shots.
Here, in the midst of such stark ugliness, a perfect and picturesque scene greets us. No debris. No destruction. No damage.
What a welcome respite for our weary eyes.
Of the gazillion photos that I took on my phone in 2024, this one is my favorite. It’s the most memorable and the most meaningful photo to me—the one I won’t ever forget. I’ve titled the picture, “Where two or three are gathered, …” I’m sure that many of you are familiar with this verse of scripture from the New Testament.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
Here, no matter where we look, the landscape is shaded by clouds. The only exception is this one small portion of a hillside which is illuminated by the sunshine. From our vantage point, the white church on the hill appears to have a bright spotlight positioned directly above it. John and I sit in silence, mesmerized by the view.
The two of us know that we are in God’s presence here. And the handful of faithful saints (I can count only 4 or 5 cars) who gather to worship at this lovely country church no doubt also know that, though they are small in number, He is there in their midst. Still at a loss for words, I offer a silent prayer.
Thank you, Lord, for your assuring presence in times of storms and tragedies. Amen.
Prayers For Western North Carolina. Yes, indeed.
Prayers—and more than a few tears from this Western NC native.