Some years back there was an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Chicago, Father John Phillips. He was a hail-fellow-well-met kind of middle-aged man, with a head of great white hair and a voice that, when he sang the Mass, was beautiful. He used to tell a story on himself about occasionally thinking, while preaching, You’re sounding great today, John.
Invariably, with what he called God’s sense of humor, he would then make some kind of mistake. Everyone laughed, not only because of the way he told the story on himself, but because we all understood the experience.
On May 22, ’26, the Mainstreetrockymount.com blog had its all-time highest readership: 2,359 views in ONE day. Wouldn’t you know, the day I made a mistake.
I was having a Father Phillips moment. Then a “fellow concerned citizen” on that Facebook page pointed out that I had made a mistake. What?
I wrote that Mayor Roberson had called for Andre Knight’s resignation after the “fight.” No, only after the State Auditor cited Councilman Knight for the $47,000 owed on his utilities. No wonder some expressed surprise to that news, which perplexed me until I rechecked the date on the Mayor Roberson’s article.
I wrote my first blog on July 27, 2015: People Making a Difference in Rocky Mount, NC – Evan Covington Chavez. Like anything else, pick your poison, the more I have written, the better I write.
A book on writing will tell you that in order to write well, you must read well. No problem there, addicted to books as I am. My mother used to say, “I know a little bit about a lot of things.” Me too.
The stronger the writing has became, the more followers have come on board. There are now 2,084 followers. It took me a while, but I found my civic voice, and it does not write falsehoods, make things up, or stir the pot. I apologize for my swing and a miss.
The response on Concerned Citizens to the blog brought hundreds of comments. The results were not good for Mr. Knight’s brand. There are a small number of comments on his behalf. Trump’s name got mixed up in this tirade of negativity against Knight too. What a surprise.
I am grateful that someone pointed out the mistake that the Mayor had not asked for a second resignation. I think of It like a small mallet popping out of my computer coming down saying, “Wrong.”
The citizens of Rocky Mount are reacting to yet another big ‘mistake’ of Ward 1’s councilman. There is never accountability, humility, or correction. These are not signs of weakness. They are signs that someone still respects the people they serve.
Thanks everyone for keeping me company on my Main Street bench. SFH
Main Street Rocky Mount 