Wednesday, October 29

Do not fear, I have called you by name and you are mine.
—Isaiah 43: 1b

I was perhaps 11 or 12 when my grandfather invited me to join him for breakfast in his home along the shore of Lake Superior.  The fact that he invited me, and only me, made it an extraordinary event. 

A practicing attorney well into his eighties, he was a quiet man whose few words were well chosen. To me he looked like Lincoln. His Christmas gifts were always envelopes with a five dollar bill that framed Lincoln's figure.

Above the oval, he always wrote a short note whose words echoed the tenor of Lincoln's words. I was in awe of him, but never quite sure how to relate to him.  

And now he had invited me, just me, for breakfast. I was honored, a bit nervous, and deeply aware of how significant an occasion it was. I walked through the garage, with its scent that I was sure was unique to his garage, into the kitchen, and then on into the dining room with its beautiful mahogany table. 

It was, to me, the largest table in the world.

An actual measurement would have told another story, but no matter. To me it was huge. He sat at one end, and I sat at the other as we ate the breakfast he had every morning: a poached egg, a glass of orange juice, and a piece of toast.

"I'm glad you came," he said.

"Thank you," I said. And we began to talk. I have no idea what we talked about. It might have been trivial, though I doubt it. And yet the memory of that morning has stayed with me as though it happened yesterday.  

I had been called by name. I belonged. There was nothing to
fear.

Sometimes when God calls us by name, and invites us to the table, we are anxious. What will we talk about? Will we belong? 

When we hear that call, we know in our soul that  it's time to cross the alley, walk through the garage, make our way through the kitchen and take a seat at the table knowing that what transpires there will stay with us for the rest of our lives. 

Gracious God, remind us of your invitation and help us set aside our fears, that we might hear and live thy word. In Jesus' name, Amen.