"Mealtimes"

I have written down in my journal for March 14th that breakfast was “awesome”. I know what I meant was the food: breads, cheeses, coffee, jams, eggs, fresh veggies, fresh fruits, delicious orange juice and did I mention coffee? The coffee was really, really good! I had to stop and think of those foods and what was “awesome” because what stood out from my journal are the names of the people we sat with that morning. We sat at a rather large table, usually big enough for 12 people: Amy, Debbie, Roger, Bonnie, Karen, Ray and of course Tracee; we had a time of special fellowship over breakfast. That is what I remember and miss now almost a month later. “Did you see the two buttons on the toilet, what are they for?” “I think one is for when you pee and the other is….you know…yeah…when you need more water.” “Bwahahaha, yeah, you are probably right.” “Did you sleep well…?” “I love the beds, but we will be in a new hotel tonight…” “What the heck is that on your plate…? Are you really going to eat that…? Oh, is that what humus is…looks different than at HEB…why don’t I see any bacon…just kidding!”

On and on sharing discoveries, hearing peoples’ impressions, co-discovering foods, and sometimes just asking bluntly: ”what do you do again?” “When is your baby due?” “ Which church do you attend?”, etc. So much fellowship happened over mealtimes. I don’t know what happens over mealtimes and how sharing food and visiting is such a special time that results in bonding. I just don’t know the details, but I love the result. It was fun imagining Jesus sharing meals with His disciples and laughing and joking…did Peter eat fish eyes? or did Jesus always bless the food or did one of the 12 sometimes bless the food? What was that food that Jesus said He had, that the disciples’ were not aware of, in John 4?

“Got to be on the bus in 10 minutes so we better get going! How do you pronounce where we are going today?” "Is that the Maritime or the Phillipi one"?

Jesus, I want fellowship. I want bonding. I want to be closer to those who also want to be closer to You. Help me stay plugged into the body.