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Chapter 15: Supper Club – Pages 103-112

There was a time in my life when I lived on donations, barely a part-time salary, food stamps and the manager’s specials from Food Lion.  But it was a time of my life that I ate the best.

There’s just something satisfying about taking your meager earnings and making a meal full of flavor.  There’s something even better when you get to enjoy that plate full with friends and a helping of love.

I lived in a town with the only two stop lights in the entire county. The highlights for its residents were a trip to Dairy Queen and spending the evening perusing the aisles of Walmart.  There wasn’t much for a twenty-something to do so we had to get creative.

For the size of the town, there were a surprising number of twenty-something Christians living there and we quickly banded together like a little family.

Each weekend we’d get together for dinner and games.  Sometimes it was spaghetti with less-than-prime veggies tossed in because it was all we could afford.  Other times we pulled together what we could offer and have a feast that included multiple courses and the delectable homemade bread, warm from the oven, that my roommate Justin baked.  The last Friday of each month we’d splurge and go to Pizza Hut where we’d sit for hours in the corner booth playing dice games.

“While our senses were busy enjoying the food, our hearts fell in love before we knew what was happening.” {For the Love}

We attended church together, hiked the trails of the camp I was living at, went rock climbing, played volleyball, sang karaoke, dyed each other’s hair, made crafts, watched Boston Legal on repeat, played Lego Star Wars on Xbox for countless hours, and generally loved on one another.

“Don’t underestimate its magic.  It’s not just food; it’s holy ground, sacred space.” {For the Love}

It was through these gatherings, around the table or laughing until we were sure we’d puke that I learned things about subjects that I never would have considered researching myself.  I bore witness to the complexities of marriage, and helped to shoulder the burden of devastating losses and familiar troubles.  It was also through these encounters that I discovered new passions of my own.

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people.  – Acts 2:46-47

Years have passed and we are now spread across the U.S., holding residence in four separate states, and we only get to interact through the means of Facebook, these people hold such a special place in my heart.  They were instrumental in helping to lay the groundwork for my faith reaching beyond the walls of the church.

It’s an experience that I look back on fondly and an experience that I seek today.  It’s an experience that I pray that all will find; a community based not on common interests, but on a love that only God can supply.

Have you ever experienced this kind of community?  In what ways could you reach out to those around you to develop an Acts-like community, satisfying more than just hungry bellies?

[divider] [row-start] [three-fourths]Bree Blum is a just your average single thirty-something book loving, oil using, cardigan wearing blogger who loves Jesus.

You can connect with her on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.[/three-fourths] [one-fourth][/one-fourth] [row-end]