Friday: Dinner with Friends

I wrote recently about doing my Uncle Val’s funeral service. In preparing for funerals I invariably learn things I hadn’t known before. Uncle Val was a distinguished World War II veteran, having received two purple hearts and the bronze medal. Following his tenure in the military he came home and became a rocket scientist, designing some of the rockets for the Apollo Project, which took men to the moon. In so many ways he could be considered an American success story for what he accomplished with his life.

Interestingly enough, although he had done quite well in the military and business, he and his wife chose to continue to live in a small three-bedroom house that they had purchased after getting married. That is pretty remarkable in this day and time where “bigger is better” is the common mantra. But even more amazing is that my aunt and uncle had seven children . . . that’s right – seven! Over the years I couldn’t help but ask how they negotiated the simple tasks of family life. For instance, how in the world did they all get ready to go to work and school with only one bathroom?!?  Tight, disciplined schedules they told me, usually with a snicker of laughter.

However, one thing I discovered just a couple of weeks ago was the family tradition of having dinner together on Saturday evenings. It was a command performance for all nine of them. All dates, activities and plans were postponed until after the meal was finished. Interestingly enough, this rule didn’t have to be enforced much. You see, the children all loved those times together and look back at those meals as holy times. Those times around the table were the setting where they all caught up with one another, where they laughed and cried together, where they recognized the joy of being family. It was so good that their friends often asked to be included, just to catch some of the spirit of it all.

Meals can do that, you know. I guess that is why so much that we learn of Jesus’ teaching comes from occasions around the table. He knew that the table could become an invitation to share what is good and rich and important with one another. Thus, His last evening before the crucifixion was spent where? At a table. And even after the resurrection, where does John locate Jesus’ final teachings with Simon Peter and the others? Around a breakfast table.

Here’s hoping you find yourself at a table today where the nourishment is spiritual as well as physical.