The theme of this year's ECW Triennial is "Grow in Grace". It was inspired by II Peter 3:18. I was feeling anything but graceful or grace-filled after arriving in Anaheim this afternoon about 2:30 pm PST. Getting up at 5 am for a 7:50 am flight from Raleigh-Durham International Airport to Dallas-Ft. Worth to the John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA left me ... tired. Got to the hotel, then into my room just long enough to deposit my bag before hustling next door to the Anaheim Convention Center to get the lay of the land and pick up my credentials.
Triennial and General Convention, which run concurrently, don't officially begin until Wednesday, July 8. This means everything is still in a state of organized chaos. Lots of people have already arrived from around the country. Staff and volunteers were running around tending to hundreds of details that come with mounting events of this size. (I'll have more about size later.) It's to be expected, but it's also stress inducing. But as I stood there waiting for information about a series of pre-GC/Triennial meetings that will take place tomorrow, a woman approached with a warm smile and an outstretched hand. "Hello," she said, "I'm so glad you're here. You look familiar. Do I know you?" It was Katerina Whitley, a church journalist, author, dramatist and teacher, who used to live in Eastern North Carolina but now makes her home in North Carolina's mountains. Why yes, we had met, though it was years ago when she led a program for the ECW of the Diocese of NC.
All grumpiness disappeared. Katerina, who grew up in Greece, has a lilting yet powerful voice. Literally and figuratively. I particularly like this quote from her: "I am not interested in violence. I long for what is good and whole in humanity, even though I am quite aware of the darkness. Jesus expects us to be the light of the world and I try to remember this always." She is part of the Triennial program. I can't wait to hear what she has to say.
A genuine spirit. An abiding faith freely shared. Grace, indeed.