Tuesday: Shared Meals and Lives

Several years ago our daughter Meredith informed us that she was required to take her last undergraduate class in Italy. I love the requirements of modern day academia. In my university days, study abroad was a foreign phrase (all pun intended!). At any rate, Meredith went to Italy to study Italian art, and as her graduating present, we gave her cooking lessons at the Florence School of Culinary Arts. She loves to cook, and this was a real hit for her, and as it turns out, a real hit for us because we get to enjoy her cooking. In fact, I like to quip that it is one of the few graduation gifts that have ever paid off for me!

But then again, our entire family likes to cook. The boys have their specialties – Matt creates a mean gumbo, Patrick takes pride in his chili and jalapeño poppers (The mere mention makes me sweat!). Meredith goes Italian, Lisa is a whiz at just about anything, and I like to occasionally dabble myself. Because of our culinary interests, it is not unusual for all of us to be gathered in the kitchen, working on dishes and enjoying the banter around the stove.

I have to admit that I thoroughly enjoy those times. The food becomes the medium for the swapping of stories, mostly hilarious, and catching up with issues in the family. I like to think that those times have a bit in common with Jesus, who had an epicurean bent Himself (Remember his providing of the wine in Cana, his trademark breaking of the bread with friends, and the breakfast He whipped up in Galilee?). I do think food is a wonderful ingredient for community as it pulls folk together in such positive ways.

I remember seeing that happen in a graphic way. I had attended a retreat at the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C., a church that has been on the “cutting edge” of religious life for decades now, and is still serving as a helpful catalyst in so many ways. The retreat took place at a Maryland farm, and after we had gathered for introductions, our retreat leader informed us that we would begin our time together with a 24-hour period of silence. During that silence we would listen to Scripture, walk the environs and each share in preparing at least one meal. When my assigned time arrived, I reported to the kitchen, read the menu and then turned quizzically to my four fellow “chefs”. In non-verbal ways we all took assignments and began our work. It was strange not to hear the chatter of voices as we worked, but I was amazed at how the preparation of the meal pulled us together, getting to know each other through chopping, dicing and cooking. It was a strange but enjoyable experience.

I’ve not had another experience like that one, but I have had times of working on a meal that allowed us to get together in ways that transcend most conversations. I’ve also read about and even experienced ministries built around meal-making – from food kitchens in Harlem, to Sara Miles’ kitchen in a San Francisco Episcopal church, to campfire breakfasts in a Colorado mountain meadow, to fellowship meals in a Baptist church. While in the story of Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha, Mary gets most of the accolades for being with Jesus, there is something to be said for the Marthas of this world who find their way to the kingdom by putting things together in the kitchen.

How hungry are you . . . physically or spiritually? The place to get nourishment is oftentimes found in the kitchen. Why don’t you get some people to put a meal together? Chances are that you will find what you need in the preparation!