Serendipity

Wikipedia defines "serendipity" as "the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely." That word accurately describes a Sunday morning three weeks ago for me and Davonia.

I was chairing an AdvancED District Accreditation review for the Fannin County (GA) Schools. Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we anticipated beautiful country. For that reason, we drove over a day early to visit the shops, enjoy the quaint restaurants, and savor the view. We were not disappointed.

We anticipated meeting nice people, yet even so, our expectations were greatly exceeded. This is a county which is proud of its schools, and with good reason. Everything from a banquet beautifully showcasing student talent which opening the visit to the packed house awaiting the committee's exit report on the final afternoon, this community truly put its best foot forward.

On Sunday morning, we visited St. Luke's Episcopal Church, a small parish located in Blue Ridge. Little did we know, this would not be the usual Sunday service for this congregation. The Tim Janis Ensemble was two weeks into a nationwide tour, with one of the stops being a shop in Blue Ridge. The shop owner, a member of this small church, arranged for the ensemble to present its music throughout the service. While we anticipated a very uneventful Sunday morning, we experienced an incredible ensemble.

I hope you enjoy this little taste of the pleasant surprise, the serendipity, that awaited me and Davonia in a small church on a gorgeous Sunday morning in the mountains of north Georgia.