Open Table?

Take a minute to read Luke 14:1; 7-14 (open another window with whatever browser you have) and then continue...http://www.biblegateway.com/ is a great source for online bible translations...

I read this in staff devotions this week and came up with these thoughts...stewardship, humility, service. Later that afternoon, I attended an anti-racism workshop at Lutheran and left a little bit shell-shocked,but not as much as others. The new information that they got included most of what I had been teaching in 7th grade history so I was a bit amazed by what gets taught/doesn't get taught...which, of course is another blog/rant. What really hurt, though, was seeing that the information that we had talked about seemed to polarize certain groups even further and it was apparent that evening at dinner in the refectory.

Friday morning came and Pastor Shafer asked me to listen to his sermon. His challenge for Trinity this week, month, forever, was to make sure that our church and our sanctuary were open, welcoming places for all people..skin color included. Being on the fringe of Pennsylvania Dutch country, there is still overt racism and exclusion. It may even be getting more pronounced as Latino and Asian immigrants move into the area to work at the local meat-packing plants and other industries.

So here's the crux of the argument...Jesus usually ate with and always would invite those that society deemed unacceptable and outcast. In his eyes, all are equal and entitled to the meal of love and forgiveness. Food always hits the reader in the gut...literally and figuratively. Eat those people? What about my standing? They don't do things the proper way! The imagery of being filled and nourished is one that is extremely important. Why shouldn't we share our bounty with others?

But we like to be comfortable and inviting people not like us in can be uncomfortable. We may ignore their presence or go out of our way and smother them...both approaches scaring them off. How do we open our table and our hearts so that all are truly welcome?

It starts with communion...coming together as one people to receive the body and blood of Christ. It continues with conversation around the table...much like a huge family meal. It goes out into the schools and lunch rooms as we take a step out of our comfort zone and try something new.

School starts for 85 % of the country tomorrow. Lunch at these institutions of learning is loud, chaotic, and sometimes out of control. It is also very segregated. Having done lunch duty for 6 years in a middle school, I can tell you that you might see racial diversity, but you'll still find other types of segregation and the damaging ideals that come with it. Teaching Tolerance, a publication from the Southern Poverty Law Center, supports a day where students attempt to switch tables and get to know one another. It's known as Mix it Up. I would love for that to happen more often in school cafeterias...starting on day one. I know that to sit with someone outside your group can be damaging to your rep, but what's more important...a bit of discomfort now or living a life by Jesus' example? It will be hard, but we've been told that time and again as Christians. And while this example is directed at the youth who are reading this, the same is true for all the adults...

Having an open and welcoming place such as your church on Sunday morning is great. I wish more people would be open to inviting and accepting each other's way of worship as legitimate and enriching. But if we don't take this home with us for the other days, we aren't being welcoming or open at all.

May God be with all of you as we begin another year of education...within the walls of school, church, and in our communities.

Amen.