“In our concern to do it right, we have forgotten how to respond spontaneously to an encounter with the Divine. We remain children, depending on someone else’s approval, in that most important core of our life, the spiritual. We don’t learn how to pray, only to say approved prayers. We sit at the dark edges of a richly laden banquet hall, hoping for a few crumbs that might fall our way.”
~Henri Nouwen
Sometimes I feel as if I am sitting at the edge of that banquet hall, near the table laden with so much goodness and spiritual nutrition. The bread of life is freely available, and cups are kept full of the living water.
I am at the edges of this banquet by choice, for I have been invited to feast at the table by the master himself. Why do I sometimes choose to chase after the shiny things of this world instead of feasting at the table with my creator?
Alas, I am human, and I am imperfect. Thankfully, our savior is always willing to extend the invitation and to invite us to sit at his banquet table for all eternity.
Are you sitting in the corner, waiting for some of that bread of life and longing for the living water? Then call on the one who provides both.
“Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'” John 6: 35
“Jesus answered, ‘everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water living up to eternal life.'” John 4: 13-14
Lord Jesus, thank you for providing the bread of life and the living water that leads to eternal life. Forgive me for those times that I choose to eat from the crumbs of your table. Remind me to sit at the table as an invited guest, enjoying the fruits of your spiritual feast.
Growing Our Faith Together 