As most of you know I went to Alaska in June. It was amazing. My faithful sidekick (my dad) and I bounced around from hostel to hostel with a few days in the back country in between. It probably reveals too much about me, but one of the things I was most excited about when I anticipated going to Alaska was… the food. I couldn’t wait to get some seafood. Something about the thought of “fish and chips” put me in an altered state. Man, the seafood was so good there. I’ll be very honest when I say that I proudly support Long John Silver’s. It’s a wonderful establishment (I know, it sounds funny to call LJS an “establishment,” but you have to love the food there). Anyways, Alaska was a whole different world. One of our first meals was, of course, fish and chips. It was some rinky, dinky dive too. The whole restaurant probably had 4 or 5 tables, or you could sit at the counter on a bar stool. So good… that’s all I can say. Many moans and groans of delight. You know the kind… when words can’t express how good it is. Man, fish and chips… I just like saying it (or typing it).
Today I can’t get a particular image / thought out of my head. My wife shared something a mutual friend said. I know I’m not giving you context, but I’m okay with that… anyways, he said, “Sometimes Jesus did church by just sitting on the beach eating fish.” I like that image. I like that style of doing church (not just because it could include fish and chips with someone). No programs (not that all programs are bad). Being together. Maybe sharing a meal. Life on life. There’s nothing professional about it.
Emmiline realized that she won’t be home for our family’s new tradition of a Sabbath meal together. She was able to communicate significant disappointment. We make this meal special… it’s much more than just the food. Both Emmiline and Eloise told us today that they like doing church better at home with us. This is not a knock on their Sunday School classes. Those classes are run extremely well. The leadership is amazing. There’s just something life-giving about really being known… about true community… and, well, not sure what else to say about their comment. Still trying to figure out what it is they like so much about our new rhythms of Sabbath. All I can say is that I’m grateful. Glad the day seems very different than the other days. Glad it seems to be a day of delight for them. Glad it’s a day to engage each other and the Lord…a day to play… a day to worship. It doesn’t feel formal by any means. Glad they look forward to that day. Again, just encouraged by what they were able to articulate so clearly…
Enjoying that encouragement… while I continue to process that the lack of program connects with my 9 year old and 7 year old daughters in such a powerful way…
Anyways, I’m really looking forward to more fish and chips very soon. Yes, that is a metaphor. I am looking forward to being with people I love, sharing something (food…maybe LJS, conversation, etc.)… although I’m also hoping to literally eat fish and chips again soon too. Sometimes tasting something good doesn’t satiate… it only ignites more hunger.
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