Be the Table

 Be the Table   

Tables are a longtime symbol of friendship, family gatherings, and the mutual sharing of ideas. A table gathers all ages to debrief after a never-ending day at school and a fast-paced workday.  In years gone by, the evening hour fixed like clockwork, invited the family to come together in mutual agreement that everyone was hungry, and a meal was about to be enjoyed.  Conversation, even comical antics were the natural outflow of multigenerational mealtime. Table talk could fluctuate from what happened at school, to politics, or the neighbors. All in all, the topic was unimportant -- being together was the “event” at the end of the day.  Through the decades the event of eating a meal at the table, practicing good manners of chewing with your mouth closed, and keeping one’s elbows off the table, competes with the flatscreen.  Adults come home from work tired ready to kick back and relax. Kids chill by building their own world in Minecraft or amp their energy and celebrate their out-of-school hours competing in video games. Yet, the metaphor for the table persists as a sign of togetherness revealing our need to be known and loved. 

When Brent and I were dating the clue that our relationship was moving forward arrived when he asked me to accompany him in the selection of -- a dining table. The oblong cherry wood he purchased almost forty years ago is now our kitchen gathering table. The routine of dusting and polishing the table until it shines with Old English has given in to a quick wipe down right before visitors gather at our table.  The cherry wood finish worn from many gatherings, possesses imprints of woven placemats branded into the wood from hot casserole dishes, plus a small peanut sized pit mark expertly drilled by a two-year-old with a number #2 pencil. The beloved table can relay a lengthy history of birthday parties, Thanksgiving gatherings, ministry dinners, friendship circles, tea conversations, tears from loss, family dinners, baby showers, yearly tax preparation, parental tutoring (rarely a good idea), bible studies, Life Group potlucks, and Young Adult getogethers. 

Formal, polite, perfect manners -rarely. Chatty, warm, inquisitive, nosey - usually. How would you describe your table?   

Jesus spent a lot of time at the table with his disciples. He also ate meals with the self-righteous elite, and with those who had broken every rule and were seen as unclean. Jesus was happy to share a meal with anyone seeking His company. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Rev 3:20). Today He continues to invite every person to His table where we remember His gift of grace at the cross, and the victory of His resurrection. At the Lord’s table you are known, loved, and strengthened for the journey ahead. 

While communion at the Lord’s table is sacred, we also undergo change when we gather at the table for coffee and listen to someone’s story.  Imagine if everyone met at a table once a day to share a meal or conversation, to truly listen and know one another. Our world would change. You would change. Loneliness and isolation would give way to the laughter of twice-told jokes and the realization that we have more in common than our appreciation for a good brew of coffee and In-N-Out hamburgers. Friendships are forged and renewed at the table.  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once said, “A single conversation across the table with a wise man is better than ten years of mere study of books.”  When we gather at the table, we learn more about ourselves and God’s wonder-working grace.   

Take a moment to ponder the metaphor of “the table” . . . I have an important question for you.  Will you be “the table”?  The table that invites people of all ages and listens to multigenerational voices.  At Covenant Grove we have an amazing group of Young Adults with a wide range of interests, jobs, and professions. Many of them enjoy Starbucks, pizza, tacos, and hamburgers. This Sunday, before worship service, after worship service, engage in conversation with our young people -- they are there.  Get to know them, be the table, share a meal, listen to their story. Exchange ideas about favorite movies and something you’re looking forward to tackling. Young Adulthood is a pivotal stage in faith formation. Reaching out to our young people is a mutual experience of learning from one another and learning more about ourselves. At the table loneliness gives way to friendship and lives are transformed through the grace of Jesus. Will you be the table?