I. At Coffee Hour
Fran: I remember my mom's Thanksgiving dinners. She did it all herself. Her house smelled so good. I've never been able to roast a turkey as good as hers....
Connie: I used to do that, but then my kids turned vegetarian. Kind of blows Thanksgiving.
Patrick: There are tofu turkeys...
Connie: Ugh! We tried that. Like marinated pencil erasers.
Patrick: What brand was that? The KindBird ones are good.
II. In a Chalice Circle (Small Group Ministry)
Fran: I remember my mother-in-law's Thanksgiving dinners. She did it all herself. Her house smelled so good. I've never been able to roast a turkey as good as hers, but I do my best. Some of us get together every year, and everybody brings something. That tradition's important to me, even if I don't do it the way she did.
(Thoughtful pause, passing the talking stone...)
Connie: I love getting ready for guests in my home. I always put fresh flowers in the bedroom. My friend Doug used to do that, and it made me feel so special.... I haven't seen Doug in years, but whenever I cut flowers for a guest, I feel like he's right there with me.
(Thoughtful pause, passing the talking stone...)
Patrick: Sometimes hospitality doesn't work out the way it's intended. Like, one time I was visiting an older woman I didn't know very well, and she knew I was a vegetarian--so she made me a tuna casserole! I didn't want her to feel bad, so I ate it. It was terrible! But I think as a guest, you have to try to see the host's intention even when they make mistakes. You have to presume goodwill, as a guest or as a host.
(Thoughtful pause, passing the talking stone...)
Both of these conversations are fine. But how often do we take the time and slow down enough to have the second kind--to really hear one another's stories, and connect in a deeper way? In my Chalice Circle, we took the time to truly listen to each other's words. I have been a part of this church since I was fifteen, and yet this spring's Chalice Circle made me feel I belonged here in a deeper, more meaningful way.
