During these 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday, we are using “Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith” by Henri Nouwen as inspiration for this blog. This week, we're focusing on sharing a meal together.
Mealtime in our community presents an opportunity to make new friends and deepen relationships. Henri Nouwen writes: “We all need to eat and drink to stay alive. But having a meal is more than eating and drinking. It is celebrating the gifts of life we share. A meal together is one of the most intimate and sacred human events. Around the table we become vulnerable, filling one another’s plates and cups and encouraging one another to eat and drink. Around the table we become family, friends, community and yes, a body.”
Moving into a new community can initially create high levels of anxiety. Watching a new resident walk into the dining room and connect with an old friend, neighbor or coworker is a joy to experience. Being warmly welcomed and introduced to new table mates truly has a profound impact on a new resident. As conversation begins, we can often see a resident visibly relax.
Eating at home alone can limit people’s access to well-balanced meals. Within a short time after moving into Parkvue Community, residents often comment on how much they enjoy restaurant-style dining. Multiple entrée choices and our lovely salad bar and dessert table create increased opportunities for healthy eating. Not only is good eating a building block of life but eating regular meals can also boost a person’s sense of well-being and energy level.
Some residents have been sharing meals together for years. It is a blessing to observe deep friendships, care and nurture develop among the table mates. While eating a meal together, residents share their joys, health concerns and updates with extended family activities. These conversations create opportunities to invite others to join community activities and strengthen a sense of belonging. During the summer, one family member often brings fresh flower arrangements for the table. This small act of kindness strengthens residents’ connection to each other and the beauty of God’s creation.
A few months ago, one resident got the flu and did not come down for a meal. Her friends checked on her and sent warm wishes. Sadly, she was hospitalized. Her daughter shared that her mother was deeply moved when her table mates sent get-well cards. One table mate visited the healthcare center while her friend was in rehab. After the resident recovered and returned home, her friends welcomed her warmly. This camaraderie among residents provides emotional support in dealing with life’s ups and downs.
The dining staff at Parkvue becomes part of this intimate, caring connection. Forming relationships with the residents, staff members learn specific preferences and favorite foods. Often, the chef and cooks will prepare “special meal options” for holiday occasions. Henri Nouwen offers this profound conclusion: “Strange as it may sound, the table is the place where we want to become food for one another. Every breakfast, lunch or dinner can become a time of growing communion with one another.”