A Table of Change

Last week, I was in Bethany, West Virginia where I had the opportunity to officiate at the wedding of one of my good friends from seminary. The ceremony was perfect and the minister did an amzazing job. But the best part of the wedding was in fact the wedding reception. Now, I say this because as we know from the life of Jesus, he loved to party and in fact the first miracle he performed was at a wedding feast.

At the reception, each guest was assigned to a table for the evening. When I arrived, I soon learned that I was assigned to Table 10. Looking around I happened to spot some friends of mine sitting at Tbale 14. Since one of our friends from Lexington could not make the wedding, they asked me to join them at their table, and since they would be leaving after the meal to drive back to Lexington, I wanted to spend some more time visiting with them.

Now, this is where it gets interesting. As we sat at Table 14, I noticed a few of Chris' sisters friends who we had met the night before sitting at Table 12, so I went over to say hello. Now, there were 5 seats at their table not being used as the guests assigned there could not make it due to bad weather. We were invited to join them, so my 3 friends and I moved from Table 14 to Table 12. Our small dinner group went from 4 to 7 and it is my belief that Table 12 became the life of the reception.

Soon, my friends from LTS would leave to make their drive back home, but I would remain at Table 12 with my new acquaintances. And while all of us around that table had something in common (the wedding), we were still strangers. However, by the end of the evening we had come to know each other and the dynamics around table 12 changed. No longer were we strangers. We all left having something in common, having established new relationships. By the end of the night, we had even added each other as Facebook friends and believe it or not, I learned a new dance move. Yes, that night relationships were formed around one table. I truly believe God brings people into others lives for a reason and looking back on those who were at table 12, I am so thankful for the presence of God at work that night.

As I thought about Table 12, I was reminded of another table were individuals leave with something in common and establish new relationships. It is the Lord's Table and each time we gather around it, our lives are changed. Those who gather as strangers leave with something in common, new relationships will be established because of that commonality (Jesus Christ) as we gather about the Table.

Each day I thank God for the realtionships formed and for the change that can take place around a table.