He invited me to lunch. The clinching element was that he would be paying. How could I decline such and invitation?
The location was comfortable and the range of food on offer was superb. As we waited for the order we conversed. He wanted a reminder of aspects of my journey to date. I was happy to engage and share what had gone on to lead to this point. Our order arrived and he was very gracious in also opening up about aspects of where he was at.
As we enjoyed the order, so the conversation weaved in and out of the state of our lives and thoughts of the future. Delicious though the meal was – and it was s delicious meal – far more satisfying was what was exchanged in that conversation. No promises, or cast iron guarantees, no wondrous messages inspiring great acts of faith – but life shared and something to build on.
Gatherings of believers are opportunities for similar exchanges. Not necessarily with the requirement of such gorgeous meals – although I find they help. There is a mentality among some that it’s about how well they are fed, which is usually a reference for what can be done for them in a given time that’s highly valued as the centrepoint of life together, essentially listening to someone talk to you for 20-60 minutes. Thus some are disgruntled if it’s not stimulating or inspirational or grounded or sound or whatever box they need ticked to be fed.
What, however, if the mentality recognised that gatherings as a reflection of life together is far more about what we have to exchange with each other? What if the gathering is to encounter God through each other and leave with something to build on? There would be no pressure for that to take the form of a monologue or reference to Greek/Hebrew/Aramaic terms and their background. It would help if it was just the capacity to share what life in Christ has been about.
That life has its ups and downs, but it’s the life of Christ and as such exchanging that should give us glimpses of the Saviour we serve as Lord and how He is present with us in all circumstances. Seeing that in the exchange and experiencing that in our gatherings together reminds us of what it is to be stirred up to love and good deeds by encouraging each other.
Maybe it’s not the onus of an individual to feed a lot of people. Maybe there’s something in appreciating fellowship as opportunity to see Christ feed us all, through us all. All that taking place as we see the chance to meet as an opportunity to experience among each other a substantial exchange.
It was fitting then that this great lunch I enjoyed took place in a restaurant in the city that went by the name – The Exchange.
(Photo by Elizeu Dias on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 