Daily Devotions - Friday, October 31

Table Fellowship

“We need not climb the mountain to see into the valley.
All things to be seen can be found in a simple shared bowl of rice.”
--Leo Buscaglia (The Way of the Bull), p. 159

As a month of devotions about Rwanda comes to a close, I'd like to talk about this global village we live in. Here in Indianapolis, I have a variety of choices about where I might eat food prepared in Indian cuisine. I've lived here for over 8 years now and I have not taken advantage of the opportunity.

While in Kigali, Rwanda, our group had the most pleasant opportunity of eating in an Indian restaurant. The atmosphere was wonderful, the food was excellent and the conversations about our table are still memorable two months later! I wondered why I hadn't taken time to experience Indian culture and cuisine when it is so available just a few miles from my home!

There are so many fears that hold us back from becoming a peaceful global village. I often feel a sense of sadness when I think about the ways we inflict pain upon another by rushing to warfare and weaponry when we can sit down and through dialog and listening become better people, making the world a safer place. Hopefully you have been challenged to spend some time in dialog with people from other parts of our global village through the devotions I've shared with you. All you really need is a shared bowl of rice.

Ben Keckler
10.31.08