This Sunday’s message in church was centered around the concept of meals. When discussing the Bible, most Christians immediately think of the meal shared by Jesus and his disciples before He was crucified, called “The Last Supper.” However, the message Sunday also brought up other mentions of meals and even some historical facts from biblical times. In those days, meals involved communion. Meals were a sacred time when families and friends came together to spend time with one another and Christians took that time to worship the Lord. The average time span of these meals was about 70 minutes. That’s an hour and ten minutes of communion and fellowship! In present time, the average amount spent around a table (of the low majority that still eat meals together) is about 12 minutes before other things take over. Maybe the kids start acting up or the dogs need to be put away. Maybe there’s a phone call that someone has to take. Regardless, after 12 minutes, that meal is cut short.
After presenting these statistics, our pastor explained how the Lord meant for our meals to be more than just a break to fuel our bodies. Having a “meal” was meant to be a time when all other distractions are put away, and our attention is devoted to the others who are present as well as giving thanks to how God has provided for us. This message really had me thinking about my meal times in my daily life, and how I could do so much better with using that time for communion and worship. It made me thankful for our coaches’ rule of no phones at the table during team dinners. With Thanksgiving coming up, I encourage you all to partake in the full meaning of “mealtime” and give your full attention to the Lord and those around you. Really soak in every minute of every conversation, every bite of food, and give thanks to Him for the position you are in. After all, a meal is much more than the food. Remember this when enjoying your turkey this coming week. Happy Thanksgiving!