Wednesday, April 03, 2013
Just up at Huff Po...
... My piece on Breakfast as Miracle. Also, check out Jeanne Bishop's fascinating bio of holocaust survivor Hank Schwab, Transcending Buchenwald.
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It was breakfast we shared the next morning, after a woman of Jerusalem journey.
Dressed in my Easter finest and assured of being early for Easter’s Sunrise mass at St. Hubert’s in Chanhassen, I turned north not south – my anticipated five mile drive was lengthened by 222 miles as I arrived an hour early to help with Sunday brunch at the Faith Lutheran parish community in Hoyt Lakes Minnesota.
Two of my dearest friends, a mother and daughter (Sherry and Nikki), had celebrated their extended family’s Easter dinner on Palm Sunday. Their husbands both scheduled to work twelve hour shifts on Easter found them gathering to celebrate at their table a week early. Thoughts of the ‘women,’ arriving at the tomb of Jesus before (without) the men, inspired my joining them on that most special morning.
A morning of serving others and a joyous Easter service was day’s beginning of sharing a quiet Easter dinner with dear friends and meeting Sherry’s husband for the first time later that evening. Hours of conversation over wine and snacks ended with a question from her husband, “Why are all not welcomed at the ‘Lord’s Table’ in the Catholic Church?”
“We modern Christians (including, too often, myself) do so much to drive people away: We focus on the supposed sins of others, we obsess over obscure and divisive theology, and we devote a lot of energy to impressing one another.”
Gene’s question was never contemplated when the Lutheran services I was exposed to as a young adult did not include the eucharist each Sunday. Today Holy Communion is included in each of their Sunday services.
Their ‘Tables’ welcomed me Sunday morning and the morning after, and I in a pair of Sherry’s pajamas helped her prepare breakfast the next morning – Wife, husband and a new friend sharing a first meal the morning following. The answer to Gene’s question lingered, a burden to bear – my faith teachings not as inclusive as my heart . . .
During the drive home, tears filled my eyes at the thought of Sherry being unable to enjoy Friday morning mass and the Eucharist at the Catholic Church a block from her parish home on her Friday’s off. They offered me, meal, clothing, a warm bed and love Easter evening and my childhood parish home denies her the most precious of meals. . . My heart still aches. I am sure the Lord’s heart aches as well. . .
” A better path might be to pursue the things that Christ did when he returned to our Earth after the resurrection: Share simple truths, reassure those who are hurt or worried, and feed those who are hungry. We are commanded to love our neighbor, and the most meaningful way to do that may be turn to a child, a loved one, a stranger, or an outcast and simply say "come and have breakfast."
I came and Sherry and Gene served me breakfast. . .
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Dressed in my Easter finest and assured of being early for Easter’s Sunrise mass at St. Hubert’s in Chanhassen, I turned north not south – my anticipated five mile drive was lengthened by 222 miles as I arrived an hour early to help with Sunday brunch at the Faith Lutheran parish community in Hoyt Lakes Minnesota.
Two of my dearest friends, a mother and daughter (Sherry and Nikki), had celebrated their extended family’s Easter dinner on Palm Sunday. Their husbands both scheduled to work twelve hour shifts on Easter found them gathering to celebrate at their table a week early. Thoughts of the ‘women,’ arriving at the tomb of Jesus before (without) the men, inspired my joining them on that most special morning.
A morning of serving others and a joyous Easter service was day’s beginning of sharing a quiet Easter dinner with dear friends and meeting Sherry’s husband for the first time later that evening. Hours of conversation over wine and snacks ended with a question from her husband, “Why are all not welcomed at the ‘Lord’s Table’ in the Catholic Church?”
“We modern Christians (including, too often, myself) do so much to drive people away: We focus on the supposed sins of others, we obsess over obscure and divisive theology, and we devote a lot of energy to impressing one another.”
Gene’s question was never contemplated when the Lutheran services I was exposed to as a young adult did not include the eucharist each Sunday. Today Holy Communion is included in each of their Sunday services.
Their ‘Tables’ welcomed me Sunday morning and the morning after, and I in a pair of Sherry’s pajamas helped her prepare breakfast the next morning – Wife, husband and a new friend sharing a first meal the morning following. The answer to Gene’s question lingered, a burden to bear – my faith teachings not as inclusive as my heart . . .
During the drive home, tears filled my eyes at the thought of Sherry being unable to enjoy Friday morning mass and the Eucharist at the Catholic Church a block from her parish home on her Friday’s off. They offered me, meal, clothing, a warm bed and love Easter evening and my childhood parish home denies her the most precious of meals. . . My heart still aches. I am sure the Lord’s heart aches as well. . .
” A better path might be to pursue the things that Christ did when he returned to our Earth after the resurrection: Share simple truths, reassure those who are hurt or worried, and feed those who are hungry. We are commanded to love our neighbor, and the most meaningful way to do that may be turn to a child, a loved one, a stranger, or an outcast and simply say "come and have breakfast."
I came and Sherry and Gene served me breakfast. . .
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