The table has been set, but is there anything to serve

Pastoral Points

Recently I attended a meeting in a room that had two long tables together, forming an extended gathering place.  It also had four glasses on each table, and four coffee cups on each table. Four clean glasses on each table, four clean coffee cups on each table.   They were all displayed in an orderly fashion, with neat little mats underneath each setting.  One problem.  No water pitcher, and no coffee carafe on either table!  No coffee pot/carafe or water pitcher on either table!

As I looked at that combination, I wondered about a sentence my cousin had uttered when he came back from the Korean Conflict. As we talked, he suddenly said, “You know. They spend thousands of dollars on us preparing us for war, but nothing on us when we return to regular life.”

Later in life, I was told by a friend at work that her sisters had talked to a very drunken man who had been in the Air Force. He just kept saying, “I killed babies. I killed babies. I dropped bombs and I killed babies.”

I had to drop out of progressing through the ranks in the Air Force because I had gone through extensive back surgery after High School, but my brother was in the Air Force later, in the Message Intercept Division (ditty boppers). He never talked about his work very often, but he did voice concern several times about trying to adjust to the “new” new normal as he returned to civilian life.

Recently, I saw a news video about some organization that provided a place for veterans to gather and share stories about their experiences. I’ve discovered a generation difference. Many WWII Veterans remain silent about their experiences. Meanwhile, many younger generation veterans need to share in a safe atmosphere, about their experiences.

Sometimes, I believe we in the church have set the table beautifully, but we’ve forgotten to provide the water and coffee. The closest I can come to reminding you of Scripture is the words of Jesus, when He said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

It’s the responsibility of the Church to provide bread, as well as the water for the glasses. Otherwise we have empty cups and glasses.

Peace and Blessing