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October 26th.
2007
DINNER TOGETHER
There was a time in my
family’s life when I would pick the boys up from school, drive them to
two separate locations for soccer practice, then go and pick up dinner,
go back and pick up the first boy dropped off, feed him his dinner in
the car, take him to basketball practice, pick up the other boy, feed
him his dinner in the car, then take him to basketball practice, after
which I would go pick up the first boy just in time to go back and pick
up the other boy at the end of his practice. We did this four days a
week for three months. Thankfully, we realigned our priorities and have
not done this since!
I have no recollection of any schedule close to this when I was a kid.
Even more importantly, I do not remember eating dinner in the car. In
fact, what I do remember is eating dinner together around the kitchen
table without exception.
I am also acutely aware of the research of the benefits of family meal
times: families, who eat dinner not in their car or in front of the
television but actually around the table consistently eat healthier
meals and have a stronger sense of connection.
While my own experience is consistent with the research what has a
greater impact on me is how I feel when too many meals have passed and
we have not sat down together as a family: life just begins to feel
empty like I am missing something.
Interestingly, I have the same exact feelings when I am unable to join
my church family for our meal together at the altar. Whether it’s other
church business or vacation I always miss my church family when I am not
there on Sundays. I have been fortunate when I am absent from ECOR to
find myself in some of the greatest houses of worship on Sunday
mornings, and yet I still have that feeling that I have had my “meal in
the car” and not with my family around the holy table.
Blessings,
The Rev. Brian N. Prior, Rector
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