When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him… – Luke 24:30-31

Sunday, after a good morning in church celebrating the beginning of the season of Advent (14 Men’s Bible Study guys came to the front to light the candle of Hope), our friends David and Lillie picked us up and we headed over to Raleigh for an afternoon at the North Carolina Museum of Art then dinner at a cozy North Hills brasserie.

Officially we were marking the anniversary of the beginning of our Tarboro adventure (Lillie co-chaired the team that called Rebekah); in practical terms we simply enjoyed a good day in the company of good friends.

We looked at two exhibits: one explored the relationship/rivalry between the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire; the other was titled “Samurai, the Making of a Warrior.”

Both exhibitions were interesting, and I will include a few photographs below, but if I had to pick just one artifact to share today it would be “The Mecca Finder.” It’s a fabulous hybrid of culture, art, craft, religion, mathematics and science. The circle on top shows the Kaaba in Mecca. The circle below contains a map and a list of 500 cities. Just turn the needle (set on the Kaaba icon) toward the number of the city where the worshipper is located, orient the device toward the north, and voila, you have the correct direction for prayer.

Having just taken communion at church that morning I could appreciate the coming together of ritual and devotion. My prayer, of course, is directed toward God, not a place on the map, but I still find the table to be a powerful focal point. The bread and the wine are not just symbols but as sacrament a powerful means of grace.

Jesus took what was common – bread, wine, water for baptism – and made them holy. It is what God intends for as many moments of our lives as possible, being with us and speaking to us in our everyday.

Outside, walking back to the parking area, I noticed how art is not limited to exhibits inside the walls. Neither is grace limited to the sacraments; looking at our friends, seeing the beauty of creation, enjoying both food and fellowship at the French restaurant.

Life is sacramental. At least that is how I am trying to see it today. Always learning – DEREK

images: click for more detail