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i love to read

and most of you know it. recently this is evidenced by the fact that i'm reading "how to read literature like a professor" (thomas foster) for the pure enjoyment of it. this is a book that is used in many classes and courses to help students become better readers and interpreters of literature. now, for those of you who don't like this kind of thing, you're probably thinking something along the lines of, "wow, that girl is a little nutty." well, you'd be right, probably. but i'm actually enjoying this book, and although i'm still in the beginning of it, totally recommend it to each of you :)

the second chapter is titled 'nice to eat with you: acts of communion'. in this chapter, foster discusses how meal scenes are used in literature and talks about how every meal is an act of communion. he says that many times his students disagree at first because simply eating a meal with someone doesn't seem quite the same as communion in the sense that so mnay of us know it. in the chapter he makes these statements:

"in the real world, breaking bread together is an act of sharing and peace...the act of taking food into our bodies is so personal that we really only want to do it with people we're very comfortable with...generally, eating with another is a way of saying, 'i'm with you, i like you, we form a community.' and that is a form of communion."
and later, as he's talking about tom jones by fielding, he mentions the dinner scene and how it represents something more than simply a dinner scene (you'll have to read it for yourself....that's as far as i'm going :) ). he says this: "but what is this expression of desire except a kind of communion, very private, admittedly, and decidedly not holy? i want oto be with you, you want to be with me, let us share the experience."

now, while he's talking about taking meals together in the literary world, i think his comments deserve some extra thought in the real world. when we eat with others, we are inviting each other into our lives. most people don't eat with just anybody. usually, it's people you know, that you enjoy, that you're connected to. eating, although completely natural, can be deeply personal.
when people eat with one another, a special connection is made. people grow together over meals. they talk, laugh, sometimes cry, create memories, and enjoy the company of people you love. when the meal is shared by strangers or acquaintances, by the end of the meal, connections have been made and friends discovered.

in acts, we're told that the church "day to day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals with gladness and sincerity of heart..."
this picture is beautiful. can't you just see everyone around the table, talking, laughing, living life with each other?

simple. beautiful. lovely. community.

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