This weekend, my college
daughter and a few of her friends will be spending the night on their way to their
spring break trip. I wanted to spruce
up the house with some flowers, etc. and
have recently noticed how beautiful the quince flowers are this time of
year.This morning, I was driving through the neighborhood and noticed a yard
that had a quince bush blooming the size of a small mountain. I then
saw a neighbor walking by the yard, and I told her that I was wanting to cut
some of that quince. (That neighbor
recently joined me for the IF: Table where we talk, eat and share life for 2
hours/month.) Within a minute or two,
she called and said that she had gotten permission for me "to cut as much
as I want."
Now, I realize that a friend's phone call on my behalf and cutting a neighbor's quince doesn't seem
like a God-sized miracle. But as I was
thinking it through, I think that my small step in obedience in starting an IF:Table, and forming deeper relationships with neighbors, led me to the sweet
gift of getting some free beautiful God-created flowers to celebrate my
daughter and her friends.
At our last IF: Table, I read this from Henri Nowen,
"We all need to eat and drink to stay alive. But having a meal is more
than eating and drinking. It is celebrating the gifts of life we share. A meal
together is one of the most intimate and sacred human events. Around the table
we become vulnerable, filling one another's plates and cups and encouraging one
another to eat and drink. Much more happens at a meal than satisfying hunger
and quenching thirst. Around the table we become family, friends, community,
yes, a body.That is why it is so important to 'set' the table. Flowers,
candles, colorful napkins all help us to say to one another, "This is a
very special time for us, let's enjoy it!”
So, as I believer on this beautiful ordinary day, I
increasingly think God is closer than we think, very involved and
extraordinary! Be on the lookout for Him today!
