Sacramental Living

“Because we have food,” said Eliot, my three-year old.

Just prior he had said, “We are the church.”

“Why?” I asked.

“Because we have food.”

My wife and I just stared at each other and smiled.  After a moment pregnant with meaning, awe, wonder, I said to Heather, “Something profound was just going on there.”

She nodded in agreement.

Somehow, Eliot is getting it … even at 3 years old.

We are always stressing to him the difference between the church building and the church.  He knows when we gather for worship it is at the church building.  And he is recognizing that the church is people.  More than that, the church is people with relationships who gather around a meal to talk and listen, share stories, and share nourishing resources.

I know he’s not talking about a “potluck” because he just hasn’t experienced many of those.  And when he does, it’s usually outside the church building, in a picnic pavilion.

Wisdom from a child … it’s pretty cool.  Of course, Jesus did say that we must become like them … like Eliot … to experience the kingdom of God.

Today around our family lunch table, we experienced the reality of God’s kingdom, presence, and reality breaking into the ordinary.  The pedestrian meal became a sublime feast.  We experienced communion.  We are the church.

SO TELL ME SOMETHING:
How are children around you showing you Jesus?

——

Brian Niece
www.brianniece.com
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