In the last post, I asked how stories show the connected-ness of all humanity. If all humanity is connected, it would seem that there are some shared stories - ones that we can repeat and talk about together. These kinds of stories help us to get closer to one another; they also give meaning to our community.
Today, I think it's important to ask, "How do I pass on a story that's been important to me?" Each community, organization, family, has its own story; how do you gather together to tell those stories and show how they have as much meaning today as when they were first told?
When Annie and I moved to France (in Cameroon and NW Ohio, incidentally, we have experienced the same thing) we were immediately thrust into an unknown culture. Subconsciously, we searched for the "untold" story that would help us navigate the new found world. No one seemed willing to divulge any secrets. To Annie and me, it seemed that our friends and family were right, "The French are rude, stuck up people who don't care about outsiders." As we stayed longer, we realized that first assumption was far from the truth. We could name numerous instances of encounters with French people who did not at all fit that stereotype.
It took Annie and me reflecting, talking and living with the people we encountered to start to piece together the "story". Eventually, we realized that the French people were not rude but felt vulnerable. Throughout history, they had been overrun by Spain, England, Germany, The Holy Roman Empire. I, too, would not want to open up quickly with people. We learned that life in France was very "eucharistic". This revelation changed our whole attitude to the French and to life itself. If you wanted to get to know someone, it now became important to sit down, have a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, eat a meal and enjoy one another's company. Slowly, the "story" that gave meaning to our French friends began to materialize - not just in conversation, but in our life together. The experience reminded me of the walk to Emmaus.
Remember in the story how the two followers of Jesus are talking about the resurrection event and suddenly Jesus appears? They don't know who he is until that evening, around the table, as he breaks bread with them. Then the two disciples realize that he had been with them all along. Had they walked away from the encounter and branded him a "weird outsider" who was the "only one in Jerusalem who didn't know what was going on", the world could be different today. Yet, they took the time to listen to this stranger and to invite him in to eat with them.
I am sure that we have the same kind of encounters within our own community. I am certain that I miss opportunities to delve deeper into the story because I don't take the time to do just that - "go deeper". Eucharistic means "thankful"; that's exactly the way life seemed to Annie and me in France - thankful: thankful for the stranger in the midst, thankful for good food and someone to enjoy it with, thankful for life itself. How this world could change if I lived a "eucharistic" attitude to life everyday.
Oh, yeah, there is the theological dimension to this "eucharistic life" as well: in the breaking of bread, even at the simplest of tables, our common story reminds us that the Christ is with us. Where the Christ is, there is God's kingdom; where the kingdom is, God's mercy and justice reign supreme. Imagine an end to hatred, violence, injustice; imagine making swords into plowshares and studying war no more! I guess we do have a common story; do we live it? That seems the primary way of sharing it! In the meanwhile, let's sit down, converse with one another, and enjoy some food!
Peace,
Tim
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