Our congregation, in common with many I have worked with, puts together meal trains. Even if perhaps you call it by some other name, I guess that you know what a meal train is: a schedule of people bringing meals daily to someone (or a whole family) who is suffering something that makes it hard to keep their normal routine.
One parent in a household recovering from surgery or going through chemo treatments. One spouse enduring the loss of the other and navigating the season of a funeral, family visitations, paperwork, and reorientation. Someone losing their home to fire and living in temporary quarters.
Many different life events could trigger a meal train. And there are people who have a particular gift for keeping their ear to the ground and standing ready to organize a blessed cavalcade of provision for others in a time of suffering.
I think meal trains serve as a beautiful reminder of the kingdom of God.
They involve provision of basic need: daily bread. I have been joyfully surprised, however, to find an over-the-top gourmet meal delivered by meal train: cooking is some folks' spiritual gift! They are embodied love: We need to show up on someone's doorstep, and often come into their home, to deliver the goods. They foster relationship: It's hard not to have some kind of conversation when you're giving and receiving a meal-gift. They serve as an opportunity to pray: Making a meal for someone keeps them front of mind, and receiving someone's labor of love brings gratitude to the surface.
When you get an email, a text, a notification, or maybe even an old-school phone call from someone inviting you to participate in a meal train, do it. It realizes so many facets of God's love for us and our Christian call to be in meaningful community.
Thank God for the meal train!
love,
emrys
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