Cara, The Table, and You

Cara Dost is a Princeton Theological Seminary student and part of our congregation. Our Associate Pastors and I have welcomed her into our pulpit several times over the years. She wrote this recently yesterday, and it’s with her gracious permission that I share it with you today —

I’m tired of feeling like I don’t have a place at the table. Or that I do, but my seat has been squeezed into a crowded circle that resents me for destroying its perfect curve.

Stop squeezing people in. Get a bigger table.

Sit at a huge table that makes you uncomfortable to sit there alone, because its vastness demands more bodies.

Invite everyone to join, even the stranger, especially the stranger who is most strange to you.

Don’t stop until every seat is filled. (The table is too long to ever be filled.) ‘

Rejoice in the unity, and rejoice in the differences, and remember that humanity is never a secondary theological issue.

Rejoice in knowing that you are welcome, and that you are welcome to welcome others.

No need to pull up a chair. (There’s already a chair for you here.)

Just take your seat.