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Wait: An invitation to be slow enough to see

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Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Written by Dan DeBruler

Three o’clock in the morning has a way of stripping life down to what’s unresolved.

The noise of the day is gone. The distractions are quiet. The conversations are over. The phone is finally still. What remains is whatever followed us into the dark.

At that hour, solutions don’t usually present themselves. There are no quick fixes, no clean answers, no easy next steps. Just questions. Questions about relationships, decisions, regrets, fears, responsibilities. Questions we managed to outrun in the daylight.

But 3 a.m. isn’t always cruel. Sometimes it’s honest.

It reveals what we’ve been carrying longer than we care to admit. It exposes the gap between what we’ve been managing and what we’ve been understanding. And it gently confronts us with a truth we often avoid: most of what troubles us didn’t arrive suddenly. It arrived slowly.

A marriage doesn’t drift in a day. Burnout doesn’t appear out of nowhere. Anxiety has roots deeper than the moment we finally feel it. We may experience the pain suddenly, but the path that brought us there was usually walked one step at a time.

That’s why hurry is such a poor guide.

When life speeds up, reflection is often the first casualty. We learn to function without noticing, cope without considering, and react without remembering. Eventually, we find ourselves awake in the quiet, facing the weight of something we never slowed down long enough to name.

Scripture teaches us a better way.

God rarely begins by handing us instructions. He begins with context. Genesis tells us creation was very good before explaining how brokenness entered. The Gospels show us the Savior before we fully understand the cost of following Him. The Epistles often remind believers who they are in Christ before telling them how to live. Revelation shows us the end of the story so we can endure the middle with hope.

God often reveals the outcome before He explains the origin because purpose clarifies patience.

We tend to live in the opposite direction. We want to fix what we see before understanding what is growing underneath. We want to solve the argument before tracing the drift. We want to quiet the fear before naming it. We want relief before reflection.

Stories explain symptoms better than strategies. Every meaningful story eventually pauses the climax long enough to ask, “How did we get here?” Scripture does the same. That’s our cue. Maybe the better questions begin here: Where are we? How did we get here? What was God doing along the way? And what does that change now?

Those questions don’t ignore the problem. They help us see it truthfully. They move us from reaction to discernment, from managing symptoms to understanding the story. The problem may not be that we woke up at 3 a.m. The problem may be how long we’ve been moving too fast to see what led us there.

And maybe that hour—unwelcome as it feels—is not an interruption at all, but an invitation. An invitation to become slow enough to see.

Clarity rarely shouts. It waits.

This, That, and the Other—North Carolina Edition

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Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Written by Margaret Dickson

The Scripps National Spelling Bee, held each year around Memorial Day, is a sure sign that summer is upon us. Eight North Carolina students made it to the Bee this year, with a 13-year-old girl from a Raleigh magnet school coming in at 8th place. A 14-year-old California boy took top honors by spelling the word “bromocriptine” correctly.  I had to look up that one, and my spellcheck maintains it is not a word at all. The dictionary, nevertheless, defines it as a complicated alkaloid, which does not help me in the least.

With spelling on my mind, I was interested in a post from an online outfit named unscrambler.com, which reports that “studies show that reliance on autocorrect and AI deteriorate the authors’ spelling ability over time.” It urges us to double check spelling ourselves, adding that this is a “use it or lose it situation.”  

Amen to that.

unscrambler.com goes on to tell us that the most misspelled words in North Carolina are spaghetti, because, color, through, character, business, favorite, beautiful, science, and graduation. Who knew? 

And how on earth does unscrambler.com know?

According to unscrambler.com and based on the number of internet searches, Americans in general wonder how to spell bougie, favorite, through, business, tomorrow, because, definitely, beautiful, niece, and separate. Apparently, we Tar Heels are fairly normal when it comes to spelling.

Also, according to unscrambler.com, our neighbors have their spelling issues as well. 

Virginia struggles with spaghetti (just like us!). South Carolina cannot quite handle quite. Tennessee wrestles with through, and Florida is irked by school.  Georgia—bless her heart!—stumbles over Chihuahua, as do Wyoming and Oklahoma.  If we are honest, the rest of us probably do as well. Same for ukulele, Minnesota’s Achilles' heel.

All to remind us that nothing works like a good dictionary, even if it is online.

And then there is the whole North Carolina pork barbecue thing, which has been going on since before Duke hated Carolina and both hated NC State.

East versus west. Vinegar (east) versus tomato (west) sauce. Chopped pork (west) versus pulled (pork) east, although the lines are always somewhat blurred. Whole hog barbecue is a category unto itself but generally served in the east. All of the above have been and remain staples of church suppers, wedding celebrations, and, Lord help us, political events both right and left. Apparently barbecue is apolitical.

Carolina barbecue is a hodgepodge of our history. Native Americans, European settlers, African Americans and modern methods of cooking are all in today’s mix. It resonates with Tar Heels from 1 to 100, a reality brought home to me when a grown up daddy of my acquaintance and his 9-year-old son ate their way across the state from east to west to determine the best barbecue ever for the boy’s 4th grade North Carolina project. I think he made an A.

As for me, no tomatoes please. My husband made the best vinegar sauce ever. Friends still ask for the secret recipe.

And, finally, North Carolina is one of the original 13 American colonies, so this year’s 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding resounds here as much or more than in most other places. The ladies of Edenton swore off tea in October 1774, an act of rebellion against King George. North Carolina was the first colony to call formally for independence from England with the Halifax Resolves in April of 1776. That original document is on display in Halifax through September. 

The are no shortages of birthday celebrations. The NC Department of Cultural Resources website lists more than 1000 commemorations across the state, including a day-long 4th of July wingding at the State Capitol in Raleigh.

Let the celebrations begin both for our past and for our future.

Troy's Perspective: Saying goodbye to a dear friend

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Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Written by Troy Williams

On Saturday, June 6, 2026, a sunny and bright day, relatives and friends gathered at Lewis Chapel Missionary Baptist Church to offer their condolences and pay their final respects to Mr. Billy Ray King, one of Cumberland County's most respected political figures and community leaders, in recognition of his contributions over the past five decades.

King, affectionately known as "B.R.," a proud country boy from Wilson County and the eldest of ten siblings, embodied a remarkable work ethic and a passionate commitment to education, economic growth, healthcare, and community empowerment. His inspiring upbringing beautifully illustrates the values that drive positive change in our society. Beginning his journey in tobacco fields and ultimately being awarded North Carolina's prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine is truly remarkable. It proudly highlights the impactful legacy he built throughout his career.

King developed a strong educational foundation in the Wilson County School system, proudly graduating from Springfield High School in Lucama, North Carolina, in 1965. His journey continued at Elizabeth City State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in social studies in 1969, marking a significant milestone in his academic career.

King began his remarkable journey as a social studies teacher, a role he cherished deeply. Just weeks before his passing, he expressed how teaching ignited his passion. In 1975, he and his wonderful wife, Margaret, also an educator, moved to Fayetteville, where he eagerly took on the role of Field Representative for the North Carolina Association of Educators, making a positive impact on the lives of many students and teachers.

It is possible that all the above factors ignited King's passion for public service. While we may never fully understand his motivations, his legacy of community service remains undeniably strong. For an impressive 24 years, he served as a Cumberland County Commissioner, proudly holding the positions of both Chairman and Vice-Chairman. His remarkable leadership journey included serving in vital roles on the Cape Fear Valley Hospital Board of Trustees and the Cumberland County Board of Elections, and as a past President of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners. Beyond these achievements, he passionately engaged with Kingdom Community Development and countless church, civic, and community initiatives, making a meaningful impact in the lives of many.

King was a devoted husband to Margaret for 52 years and a wonderful father to his daughters, Gwendolyn Golden (married to Gerald) and Jennifer Harris, Ph.D. (married to Aaron). He was also a familiar face at the barber shop and various political gathering spots downtown. I have fond memories of King and his best friend, the late Wilson Lacy, engaging in lively political discussions with the guys at Archie McMillan's shoeshine shop on Person Street. One had to be thick-skinned to hold one's own in that crowd, but it was a routine we enjoyed almost every day after work for several decades.

We remember and celebrate the incredible life of Mr. Billy Ray King. He was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, and a dedicated servant to Cumberland County. His spirit and friendship will always inspire us. Rest in peace, dear friend—you will be deeply missed!

Publisher's Pen: Data centers in Cumberland County: Pros, cons

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Tuesday, 16 June 2026

Written by Bill Bowman

As North Carolina continues to emerge as a major hub for technology infrastructure, the debate over data centers has arrived in Fayetteville and Cumberland   County. These massive digital facilities—quiet, high security homes for the servers that power banking, retail, communications, and entertainment—are expanding rapidly across our state.

With interest percolating here in Cumberland County, residents and community leaders are asking an important question: Do data centers represent a smart long term investment for Cumberland County, or do they come with trade offs that outweigh the benefits?

This is an important quality of life issue, so we have put together a simple, easy-to-read side by side comparison of the key advantages and disadvantages, tailored to the priorities of our community.

Economic Impact: Investment vs. Jobs

PRO: Major Capital Investment & Tax Base Growth

Data centers bring enormous upfront investment—often hundreds of millions of dollars. Even with incentives, they add substantial taxable value that can support schools, public safety, and infrastructure.

Construction generates a surge of economic activity, employing local contractors, engineers, and tradespeople.

CON: Limited Permanent Job Creation

Once built, data centers employ relatively few people—typically 20 to 50 full time staff.

For a county focused on workforce development and upward mobility, some argue that other industries may offer a better long term return in job creation.

Local Infrastructure Improvements: Upgrades vs. Strain

PRO: Upgrading Community Wide Infrastructure 

To support data centers, counties often receive improvements to:

• Power grids

• Water and sewer systems

• Broadband capacity

• Road access

These upgrades strengthen the county’s overall infrastructure and can accelerate broader economic development.

CON: Enormous Energy Consumption

A single data center can consume as much electricity as a small town.

Local residents have concerns that include:

• A strain on the electrical grid

• Need for new substations or transmission lines

• Potential PWC rate increases

• Whether industrial demand limits future growth

Energy capacity is already a sensitive issue in many communities in North Carolina.

Economic Diversification: Stability vs. Resource Allocation

PRO: Diversifying Cumberland County’s Economy

Data centers will help broaden Cumberland County’s economy, which has long been anchored by the military, healthcare, education and small business. Some signal that the county is ready for modern, high tech investment and can help stabilize the local economy during downturns.

CON: Large Land Requirements

Data centers often require 50 to 200 acres of well located land. Once built, they occupy that land for decades while providing relatively few jobs. Some argue that mixed use development, housing, or light manufacturing could generate more community benefit per acre.

Community Impact: Low Impact Neighbors vs. Environmental Concerns

PRO: Quiet, Low Impact Industrial Use

Data centers in general produce minimal noise, generate little traffic, operate quietly 24/7, and do not emit pollutants. For residents concerned about preserving neighborhood character, data centers are among the least disruptive industrial uses.

CON: Water Usage & Environmental Questions

It is well known that data centers use significant amounts of water for cooling, especially in summer.

While Cumberland County’s water supply is stable, large industrial users can strain long term capacity and raise environmental concerns for neighborhoods, agriculture, and future growth. 

Local Business Ecosystem: Opportunity vs. Incentive Concerns

PRO: Support for Local Tech & Service Businesses

Data centers attract an ecosystem of supporting industries:

• Cybersecurity firms

• Fiber optic and networking companies

• HVAC and electrical specialists

• Backup power and battery suppliers

This can create new opportunities for local businesses already serving Fort Bragg and the region’s tech needs.

CON: Public Skepticism Over Incentives

To attract data centers, counties often offer tax incentives.

Cumberland County residents want transparency and assurance that these incentives don’t shortchange schools or public services, and that the long term benefits outweigh the concessions. County residents need assurance that the county isn’t giving away too much for too little return

Well, without a doubt, this will be a decision that will shape Fayetteville and Cumberland County’s growth in the future. Data centers offer real advantages—investment, infrastructure, diversification, and low impact operation. But they also raise valid concerns about energy use, land allocation, water resources, and public incentives. As Cumberland County continues to grow, the community must consider:

• What kind of growth do we want?

• How should we allocate land, water, and energy?

• What mix of industries best supports long term prosperity?

The North Carolina General Assembly is currently advancing Senate Bill 730 (the Ratepayer Protection Act), which would regulate large data centers. Earlier this month, the House voted to approve the bill. It now awaits the Senate's approval. This bill addresses most of the concerns mentioned earlier in this article. So while the state legislature finishes debating the bill, Fayetteville and other municipalities and counties across North Carolina have enacted temporary local moratoriums on data center construction.   

Data centers are reshaping North Carolina’s economic landscape. Whether they become part of Cumberland County’s future will depend on how well our local leadership evaluates the benefits and how well they align with the values and vision of the people who call Cumberland County home. 

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.