This weekend Tim and I headed to Greenville, NC to teach at the Foraged Beauty retreat. Our March has been one of the fullest months I can remember in the last few years. Although it could have felt like “one more thing to do” on our schedule, it actually felt quite the opposite.
Anticipation hovered over our spirits as we packed the car and headed east. You see, our family has come to appreciate the power of beauty and it’s necessity in our lives so much so that it is a joy to share it with others. We long to communicate how important it is to forage the beauty all around you.
Our anticipation did not disappoint. As we gathered around the long table that first evening, breaking bread and sharing stories, we knew we were in for a special weekend.
There’s something about gathering around a beautiful table. I’ve written about this on numerous occasions because over the years I’ve learned the theology of the table. (You can read about it here: Your Kitchen Table Gives Life and here Make Mealtimes Magical).
God is present as we sit next to each other and longs for us to enjoy the presence of each other in communion.
I witnessed this weekend how complete strangers in the matter of a few hours became kindreds as they plunged together into creativity after sharing a meal together. Life stories were exchanged. Laughs erupted. Liturgy shared.
But we must make time to gather. Our busy schedules crowd out moments gathered together that in years past used to be shared every single evening. We run from one activity to the next and forfeit sweet time communing over the table.
Our dear friends, Daune and Keith, recognize this need and have become known for their long table gatherings. They invite strangers into their home each week and shower them with a beautiful dinner.
Over and over again in Scripture, Jesus confirms how spiritual hunger and physical hunger are intertwined. He gives numerous examples from His own life of the importance of providing a place to eat. He not only planned for times to eat together, He stopped the business of the kingdom in order to sit down and eat.
“I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” (Matthew 15:32)
Eating, breaking bread together is the business of the kingdom.
Human relationships are forged together around the table. Discussions transpire that might not take place elsewhere. Nourishment provides the catalyst for fostering deep conversations.
We partake of each other's lives, listening intently to what each has to say. We soak in the glory of each and every one.
This transpired at the Forage Beauty art workshop this weekend.
We foraged the beauty within each other. It was such a beautiful time that one of attendees shared on the last day how she plans to move her own table in her home to accommodate more room for others to gather around. How beautiful.
Foraging beauty is not some abstract process. You can do it in your home. You can do it with your own family or with strangers. The important thing is we take the time to actually do it. We attend to how fast paced our lives are and take steps to slow down so we can incorporate these integral life rhythms.
“There is no occasion when meals should become totally unimportant. Meals can be very small indeed, very inexpensive, short times taken in the midst of a big push of work, but they should be always more than just food. Relaxation, communication and a measure of beauty and pleasure should be a part of even the shortest of meal breaks.” ~The Hidden Art of Homemaking
Beauty flourishes around the table. Let’s take some time today to gather there.
I’ve included some questions below for you to pause and reflect on how you might forage beauty around your own table.
How often do we spend time gathered around the table in our home?
What does that time together look like? Are we hurried and frazzled, rushing off to the next thing?
Do we linger together deep in conversation?
Is there someone new we can invite to our table this month?
What is one thing I can do different today to make the table a rhythm of life?
How can the table bring beauty to the home?
Thank-you for joining me in this space! It’s a gift to be with you.
Tomorrow, if you are a paid subscriber, I will be sending a list of my favorite books that have inspired me to forage beauty around the table. In addition, I will share some of our family’s favorite practices for gathering. If you are not a paid subscriber, you can switch to monthly or an annual subscription at any time. Would love to have you!
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Christine---that table setting is so stunning. And what an interesting concept as well. It certainly represents what you're talking about: foraged beauty. :)
Lovely and inspiring.