Detroit Restaurant

Scripture: Luke 14:12 He said also to the one who had invited him, 'When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'" 

It was one of those meals you remember for the rest of your life.

It was meant to be. I was interviewing for an Associate Pastor position at a church in the Detroit area. One of the members of the Associate Pastor Nominating Committee had a child in the Children's Hospital downtown. Her son was recovering from a brain tumor, if such a thing is possible, and she was eager to get out of the hospital for a little while and think about "other" things. I didn't have a lot of context or expectations for what the city of Detroit would be like. I knew the basic things - the Lions, the Tigers, the Pistons, and, of course, the Red Wings. I knew Detroit to be synonymous with cars. I knew it was one of cities sociologists find incredibly interesting: end of the Underground Railroad, birth of the production line and the workers' unions.

As we neared the Children's Hospital, I was struck by how green everything was. How well maintained!   A Ronald McDonald house, security guards, trees and benches - it all seemed normal for an area surrounding a well-known and respected hospital. We picked up the member of the APNC, and headed the two blocks to the restaurant. Immediately, the landscape changed. Two brown, burned out, empty blocks from the hospital to the restaurant parking lot, and not a soul in sight. We pulled into a well-lit parking lot with a security guard, walked around to the entrance "protected" by another security guard, and entered the restaurant.

Immediately, the smell of fresh baked bread overwhelmed my senses. The smell was so strong I could almost taste the bread before we sat down. When we were seated, we were taken to a quiet corner, right by the windows.

Warm bread appeared immediately on our table, with olive oil and spices for dipping. It tasted as heavenly as it smelled, and I enjoyed my first few bites.

The food was so good! It was THAT meal. I remember exactly what I had - I had salmon in a lemon dill sauce, garlic mashed potatoes topped with fried onion strings, and asparagus with hollandaise that was perfect - nice and light and airy, not a heavy cream.

The building next to the restaurant was old, dilapidated, and burned out. Clearly all the restaurant's security was meant to protect the upscale patrons from the squatters next door. Shortly after we started eating, a couple, clearly homeless and hungry, appeared at the window. They watched as we ate our meal, although not very long. As soon as the maitre d noticed them, he hurried quickly over and lowered the blinds. That way we could eat without being bothered by them.

I've often thought about that meal. It was memorable in so many ways. But what I think about so often is not the food, or the ambiance. I can't even remember the name of the restaurant, and doubt it's still there. What I think about is the challenge of this passage from Luke 14: 12 He said also to the one who had invited him, 'When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.'" Amen.

Prayer: Take us deep into the heart of hospitality. Help us to understand that the generosity the world needs often demands sacrifice on our part. Be with those who have never known a table blessed by laughter and welcome, who have seldom heard affirmations and who do not know your abiding love.  Remind us, O God, that we are to set many tables, to speak blessings often and to be your love in the world. In the name of Christ we pray. Amen. ~ Prayer Copyright © 2011 Cynthia Langston Kirk. Posted on Piercing Stories.

October 9, 2016; Eastridge Presbyterian Church: Rev. Melodie Jones Pointon, Senior Pastor

mjonespointon@eastridge.org