seated where i don’t belong

last night during communion my pastor shared a story written by bob benson.  (this is a paraphrase.  the best i could remember it.  but the meaning is still there) 

there was this man named james.  james was a very active member in church.  one sunday his pastor announced that the next saturday afternoon their community of faith would have a picnic at the local park where everyone would just bring their own food for their family.

so james went through his week like he always did.  living for Christ in every way that he could. saturday morning comes and james goes to run some errands and stops by the store.  there he runs into one of his fellow church members.  this member asks if james is going to the picnic.  james replies, “i actually forgot all about.  i shouldn’t go.  i don’t have anything to bring”.  james’ church friend encourages him to go and then heads on his way to the picnic. so james goes home and opens his refrigerator and pulls open the drawer where he keeps lunch meat and finds there a dried up piece of bologna.  he sighs and pulls it out.  he gets his bread and it isn’t really that soft but he gets what’s left of it and the mustard and he makes himself a less than desirable bologna sandwich.  then he gets in his car and heads to the picnic.

when he gets to the picnic the church family quickly gathered and prayed over their food and then began to eat.  james goes to one end of the table and sits down.  then a family of 4 comes over and sits near him and it looks like the mother had slaved over the stove all morning.  a huge plate of fried chicken.  baked beans.  potato salad.  pickles, tomatoes, carrots, celery sticks.  a chocolate pie and a huge jug of sweet tea.  james hesitates to pull out his undesirable bologna but realizes that it is all he has to eat.  so he pulls out his sandwich and starts to eat.

when the mother of the family next to him sees that all he is eating is a small bologna sandwich she offers for james to share in their feast.  james says “no its ok. i’ve got my sandwich”, but the mother insists.  james agrees and enjoys the meal with his new friends.  james realized that he was a simple pauper bringing very little to a feast, but then he was invited into this family to share in their feast.

now i understand that this story might be a little cheesy and sound completely made up, but the point is that we are invited to the table to take part in the feast that Christ has to offer us.  the thing is that we really have nothing at all to offer him.  just a lousy bologna sandwich  all we can do is agree and take part in Christ’s feast.  the feeling i get when i think that i have been invited to the table, i have accepted the invitation and even though i am seated where i don’t belong, i am never asked to get up and leave the table.  ever.  i am glad Christ accepts me for who i am.

i saw this phrase on my friends myspace.
“i’m a complete idiot, but i’m pretty sure that God still loves me.”

i am glad that God still loves me and never asks me to leave the table.  even when i am a total idiot. 

communion.

we had communion last night at church. every year, on the first sunday of the year, we gather in the fellowship hall around tables to share the bread and the wine (grape juice. we’re baptist remember). don’t get me wrong, i love taking communion and the memory that comes with it but this years was extra different. with the death of my cousin and everything else that was/is going on, it was good to sit with my family and to be served the elements by my father. after we have taken communion we all stood in a circle and sang the good ole baptist hymn, the bond of love. it felt good. it felt like community.

thank you Jesus. what a great sacrifice. help me to understand to the best of my ability. i know ill never completely understand, but still.