Meet Me At The Table

by Tammy Iund Woodard

Monday - 10.12.20

I remember when I was raising my boys.  As they became teenagers, and I was a single parent, it became progressively more difficult to get them to open up and share their feelings.  I would have been thrilled just to hear about their day!  I tried having regular dinner times where we sat around the dinner table together.  There were just the three of us and it got to the point where it became awkward and a great deal of pressure.  Then I had a revelation!  We started taking car rides.  I would find time during the week to take each one for a ride.  Suddenly, without the pressure of staring across the table at each other, they would open up and share!  It was glorious.  I began to look forward to those car rides.

We are living in unprecedented times.  Is anyone else tired of that phrase? Haha, I know I am. It seems like every topic is a controversial one.  But God is faithful!  It can be so difficult to have any conversation, especially the hard conversations.  Continued connection is necessary, even when we have to work at it. Be creative in finding ways to have the conversations.

Living in the radical middle is the full expression of grace and truth and the inevitable tension of that space.  God extends a holy invitation to us to join Him in that space.  Tauren Wells song - KNOWN is one of my favorites.  I feel like it sums up this space in the radical middle.  “It’s not one or the other ...it’s hard truth and ridiculous grace to be fully known and loved by you.”

The radical middle where we are led by grace and informed by truth allows us to meet people where they’re at.  The radical middle is where we are fully known by God.

I’m the hands and feet of God in this world.  But here’s the stark reality - people are messy.  You start getting involved in people’s lives, you start opening up your own life - it’s messy.  There really is no better description.  However, God is ever redeeming and resurrecting in our lives and the lives of others. Oh, the hope that brings!

As this series comes to a close, I’d like to extend a challenge.  Will you find creative ways to bring others “to your table”?  Will you accept God’s invitation to bring it ALL to the table, HIS table?  Will you extend that ridiculous grace to others and allow Holy Spirit to work on the hard truths and live in the radical middle?

Call to Action

Pray and Reflect on:

Tauren Wells Song: KNOWN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAKWod74VLs

Romans 12:3:

3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.

Micah 6:8 NLT

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

 Reflections

1.  What are you still holding back from the table?

2. Have you accepted Christ’s invitation (in your life, situations, relationships) to join him at the table?

3. How can you participate in the following actions, during these “unprecedented” times, in order to invite others around the table?

   1. Intentional awareness

   2. Personal relationships

   3. Meaningful advocacy

   4. Active reconciliation

4. What is God saying to you?  What are you going to do about it?