Investing in People, building community.

The Meal That Makes Us Family and Friends

We all need to eat and drink to stay alive. But having a meal is more than eating and drinking. It is celebrating the gifts of life we share. A meal together is one of the most intimate and sacred human events. Around the table we become vulnerable, filling one another's plates and cups and encouraging one another to eat and drink. Much more happens at a meal than satisfying hunger and quenching thirst. Around the table we become family, friends, community, yes, a body.

That is why it is so important to "set" the table. Flowers, candles, colorful napkins all help us to say to one another, "This is a very special time for us, let's enjoy it!"

These reflections are taken from Henri J.M. Nouwen's Bread for the Journey.

People and relationships have been a large core of Christianity. It's not a post-modern thing, it's not a generational thing, it's not a life-cycle thing.

It's what seems to be a God thing. 

When read the scriptures we can find passages where Christ ranks the love of God and the love of others in a top priorities, even as far as to say that we love others as much as we love our selves. If we read through the Old Testament where several of the Jewish feasts and times of worship where set around a meal with their families and community. There has always been this most interesting dynamic between sharing our lives with each other and meals. Meals happen at weddings. They happen at funerals. They happen when we celebrate another year of living or marriage. 

Moments of joy, pain, somberness, romance, love and peace, are many times shared around gathering together sharing our selves and food. 

Community is important. 

Relationships are important. 

Gathering in each others homes is more than just a program, or a social function, it is a place of sharing with one another our lives, it is close to the heart of God. 

It's worthy of preparation.  

More than setting the table. 

Preparation of heart. 

When an invitation is extended. When we say, "Come. Sit with me. Let me share my life with you." Allow your mind to settle and not focus on the busyness of life's moments, but allow our hearts and mind to seek how when we meet, when we gather around the table what we can bring to share. 

A listening ear. A thoughtful remark. Encouragement. Good news. Compassion.