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In Touch, Opening the table, Radical Hospitality, Ryan Cook, Table the place of possibility, The long repast, The Radical Gospel, The table is a symbol of the world put right, The Table is level, We are all guests around the table

Photo by Ryan Cook on fityourself.club.
The table is a place of possibility…
The table is level. It can be a symbol of the world put right.
This Canadian Thanksgiving, we anticipate getting back in touch with long lost friends and relatives around the table in this annual harvest festival. Of the many things that the pandemic has deprived us, the languorous enjoyment of a long repast has been an aching void.
Ryan Cook writes a timely article about his experience in “Things I’ve Learned from 2.5 Years of Opening Our Home on Monday Evenings.” Ryan describes himself as a “Dad. Amateur Thinker. Theology. Politics. Hospitality. Trying to follow the way of Jesus.” He writes:
“For the last 2.5 years we opened our doors on a Monday evening for friends, neighbors and strangers to come eat with us. No grand, mechanistic plan, we just wanted to know people. We were also looking for a way to live our faith — the love and welcome of Jesus — in a concrete way. Simple idea, really. Simple, yet it has been a powerful experience for myself and others, more powerful than I can probably articulate. Hundreds of beautiful people have come through our doors, all changing us in one way or another.
I am left pondering the many unpredictable moments of beauty:
The Table as a Powerful Symbol of a World put Right
I’ve learned that the table is a powerful symbol of a world put right. At the table you look people in the eyes. The surface of the table is level. It creates an environment whereby you reach your hands into the same pot, take from the same food, to sustain your lives in the same way. It’s a levelling act. You have come in need of the same thing, and you get that need met by performing the same actions at the same time. All while facing each other, in the flesh; skin and bones – real humans on real journeys.
Over the last 2.5 years the rich and poor, educated and non, young and old, highborn and low born have performed this common, levelling, act together. When the host has prepared the food, everyone receives as a guest, regardless of what one’s status is on the way in the door — we are all guests around the table. I often watched as people who would never connect in a hierarchical world spoke to each other, came to appreciate each other, and often became friends.
The Table is level
I’ve also learned that people often carry burdens that in the normal course of life there is no place to share. There are very few safe places to admit frailty. The number of people who came for weeks and then, maybe realising that this table was about more than food, that it was about family, shared the personal details of their lives and in the course of doing so were able to receive prayer and support from those who shared the space with them. It wasn’t a scripted counselling session, it wasn’t a therapists session, it was a community of friends who began to trust each other enough to ask for help in carrying their burdens. I didn’t plan this, but it happened all the time, especially if the person repeatedly came. Conversations that began at the table, often finished with quiet prayers, for issues I didn’t always know — but the context of food and friendship somehow created the context of burden sharing. So deeply beautiful.
The table is a place of possibility.
I can’t count the number of times that people would meet around the table and begin talking about what they wanted to do to make a difference in the world. Little projects became reality outside the table. A group of people decides to read a spiritual book together; another group decides to pursue a creative social justice knitting project; others spontaneously talking to each other about how they can help a mutual friend get through a tough time. The organic connection in the context of the meal, with no foreordained plan, resulted in countless good deeds done by friends. I couldn’t script this…
But over the last 2.5 years we had hundreds of people through our doors. We’ve had people that would never have darkened the door of a church unless someone died or was getting married. And I dare to say, even though I could not have planned it, that some have come and gone, not just with full bellies, but with the sweet taste of Jesus in their mouths; even if they may not have articulated it in such words.
While this journey has taken effort, opening the table to people is something we can all do… it’s as natural as breathing, and I would dare to say, as necessary as breathing.”
To read the entire article see “Things I’ve Learned from 2.5 Years of Opening Our Home on Monday Evenings.“
Radical Hospitality
In a post by the heading above, I wrote about Jesus’ radical hospitality as expressed in Mark 2. I commented:
I don’t know what radical hospitality looks like – other than the ordinary ways we welcome people into our lives. Sometimes being hospitable means we are open to receiving it; accepting people where and how they are – and – being a person honest about where and how we are.
It’s not just about ideas and beliefs. It’s about the cost of discipleship itself. We pick up our cross – to join Jesus on His cross – to be part of what is most on His heart: to seek and save the lost through the generosity and hospitality of His friendship.
Double like, Rusty! This is my dream for the Church, i.e. ‘simple, grassroots churches/communities,’ within walking distance – i.e. in some parts of the world. And of course, the Lord’s common table celebration from time to time, around his life, death and resurrection life. Also, the most natural evangelism via relationships and the Christ-life lived out. Nothing quite like it, imho. Sorry, got a bit carried away there! You’ve got me thinking… the table is level, and a leveller…
Happy Thanksgiving in Canada! Having family members and friends in the USA, we have Thanksgiving with the extended family here in South Africa.
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Yes – it is my dream too. Years ago, I moved into the community in which my Church was located. Walking, talking, building, coaching, schooling, etc – all in this community despite the pains and challenges of a local church. Jesus is such a good example of the hospitality of the table. In this time of separation-by-covid, any movement to hospitality is welcomed. Thanks as always for your comments. As you can see, our thanksgiving day is about a month before the American day, probably because our harvests are now finished and we wait for our bitter cold winter (first snow expected next week :}.
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Beautiful post, Rusty. Happy Thanksgiving!
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An afterthought… fortunately the table won when SA negotiated a democratic constitution in 1994, via Codesa 1 and Codesa 2. These reconciliation talks between Pres. FW de Klerk and the great Nelson Mandela were almost wiped off the table by our Zulu constituency (fearing a loss of identity) and a right-wing Afrikaner, Neo-Nazi movement which, in a moment of madness, literally rammed an armoured vehicle into the large glass doors of the conference venue. Thank God the table won!
Some South Africans, of all races, are now calling for another Codesa, to take the reconciliation process further. Here the politicians will inevitably fail us, our only hope is the table of Jesus. PS, prior to 1994, Dr. Michael Cassidy of African Enterprise and a small team of believers invited opposing political leaders to a number of weekend safari’s in the SA bush. As they ATE together around the camp fire and shared game drives together etc, they discovered each other’s humanity.These bush camps prepared the way for the eventual national breakthrough in 1994 (the same year of the Tutsi genocide of almost 1 million people in Rwanda, further north).
It’s truly thrilling to hear about your community exploits, Rusty. Wish I could push some warmer weather your way for your Thanksgiving celebrations!
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Hi Erroll, I really appreciate the additional thoughts as it relates to the Codesa. Love knowing that eating together was a portal to discovering each other’s humanity. I have wondered at the study of contrasts between SA and Rwanda. Someone has said that Jesus was either on his way to a meal, having a meal, or leaving a meal – all to say how important “table fellowship” is to understanding. Despite our politicians’ best efforts, may there be grace enough for all. Grace to you.
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The strange thing is that, as you probably know, Rwanda had a mighty revival in the 1930’s which spilled over into the surrounding nations. Puzzling indeed! I’ve also wondered about the contrast. I guess we face a mighty enemy. But as Mike Cassidy often said, ‘God is greater!’
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Like the profound disconnect here: residential schools were largely run by churches – which makes the ghastly horrors coming to light – even more abhorrent. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. Yet here we are for such a time as this to be ambassadors of reconciliation because, as you note, “God is greater!”
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Great post, thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for the visit. As I looked at a few of your posts – I see this theme resonates with you… and me.
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Lol, nice that you caught that. Thanks, I look forward to reading more of your posts.
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A believer in Christ’s unmistakable miracles and fundamental message, I would be quite willing to consistently say grace sincerely with every meal, if everyone on Earth—and not just a portion of the planet’s populace—had enough clean, safe drinking water and nutritional food to maintain a normal, healthy daily life; and I’d be pray-fully ‘thankful’ if every couple’s child would survive his or her serious illness rather than just a small portion of such sick children.
Obviously, it’s not desirable to question one of humanity’s greatest institutions — prayer and saying grace to an omnipotent/omniscient entity. But I nonetheless feel compelled to ask, what makes so many of us believe that collective humanity should be able to enjoy the pleasures of free will, but cry out for and expect divine mercy and rescue when our free will ruins our figurative day—i.e. that we should have our cake and eat it, too?
Lastly, is it only me, or is there some truly unfortunate, bitter irony in holding faith and hope in prayer—when unanswered prayer results in an increase in skeptical atheism and/or agnosticism? Thus, the following poem was penned with sincere consideration of the countless hungry souls worldwide for whom there’s nothing to be thankful on Thanksgiving Day—nor any other day of the year, for that matter—COVID-19 crisis or not.
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[While I will understand if you decide not to allow this poem] …
GRACE
Pass me the holiday turkey, peas
and the delicious stuffing flanked
by buttered potatoes with gravy
since I’ve said grace with plenty ease,
for the good food received I’ve thanked
my Maker who’s found me worthy.
It seems that unlike the many of those
in the unlucky Third World nation,
I’ve been found by God deserving
to not have to endure the awful woes
and the stomach wrenching starvation
suffered by them with no dinner serving.
Therefore hand over to me the corn
the cranberry sauce, fresh baked bread
since for my grub I’ve praised the Lord,
yet I need not hear about those born
whose meal I’ve been granted instead,
as they receive naught of the grand hoard.
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With a “grace” like this, you may appreciate the prayer of Stanley Hauerwas re: acknowledging our debt:
“Dear God, our lives are made possible by the murders of the past – civilization is built on slaughters. Acknowledging our debt to killers, frightens and depresses us…”
https://rhfoerger.wordpress.com/2015/01/16/acknowledging-our-debt/
I try not to be cynical about being grateful – but I understand what you’re getting at. Grace to you…
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Those verses are indeed thought-provoking. Thanx.
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I appreciate your inquiries, but I am not wise enough to have an answer to all of them. I will say that unanswered prayer does not necessarily result in increased atheism/agnosticism. Sometimes, if we are wise, we may learn to wait, or we may eventually learn to pray God’s will rather than insisting on our will be done. Consider: https://rhfoerger.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/no-storyless-prayers/. Thanks as usual for your engagement; in the mean time – may you make your table a place of possibility.
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