Communion is defined as “the act or instance of sharing.” Sharing has a beautiful way of bringing people together, and nothing brings people together like the sharing of a meal. Whether it be a family of blood or family of friends, the breaking of bread and bringing a dish to pass has a way of softening our edges and opening our hearts as we fill our bellies. The act of preparing the table and the items that will be placed on it is a simple act of love. 

Contributing to a shared meal gets us thinking about others before anyone is seated and places everyone present in the unique position of giving and receiving simultaneously. Whether you prepare a souffle, put together a fruit salad, or simply bring a cheese plate, the act of participating in a meal begins the process of bringing us together before we are even in each other's presence. Upon arrival, the process of adding our offerings to the table and appreciating the contributions of our others cultivates gratitude for those we are with in ways that begin to release the tension and stress of our daily lives. It cultivates warmth and openness to sharing more than just the food.

Yet, our lives and our culture have largely robbed us of the act of participating in this symbiotic gift. In fact, many of us probably cannot remember the last time we experienced such communion. Some of us may never have experienced it at all. Outside of formal holiday gatherings, how many of us ever eat at the dinner table (or perhaps even still have one)? How many of us remember the last time the meal at that table was the reason for gathering rather than the thing standing in the way of whatever you and your loved ones were trying to get to next? 

This space is about giving us a room to remember (or discover for the first time) the joy that comes with breaking bread without judgment, expectations, or a stopwatch. If you’re one of the fortunate ones who makes this beautiful act of communion a regular part of your life and the lives of others, this room is an opportunity to share your gift of gathering with others. If this is a new or rare experience for you, or the only experiences you have had seem to be filled with the stress of family discord or feeling pressured to put on the “perfect” meal, this is a place to put that down. This is the room to practice what it means to celebrate the process of sharing rather than participate in the stress inherent in focusing on the outcome. We are not here to perform. We are here to be present with each other and grateful for one another, just as we are, and what we bring to the table, just as it is. 

In this room we will slow down and nourish our bodies with food while nourishing our collective souls with connection, acts of love, food for thought, and laughter. 

 

"My doctor told me I had to stop throwing intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people." - Orson Welles

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