the table

In high school, we considered it a privilege to “do prom” for our friends. I don’t think any of my friends paid to have dinner at an expensive restaurant for our prom dates… instead, a group of us would scout out some super cool spots to set up a table and serve the couple (or two) dinner before the dance.

It was quite the production. We would not only cook and prepare the meal… but, we would also set up a table, a “prep” spot, dress up to serve, prepare a menu, etc…

And of course, it didn’t always go without incident.

One time the friend who was bringing the meal, locked her keys in her car at the park… with the car running… and the meal in her car. The poor couple didn’t get to eat that night.

The best prom dinner we ever did, however, was at Vasona park in Los Gatos, Ca. We found a pier stretching out onto the lake that sat at the bottom of a grassy hill. We set up a small table for two at the end of the pier…

It was perfect.

At the top of the nearby hill was a big old tree to hide our “kitchen” behind… We had a birds-eye view of the pier so we knew when to bring out the next course of the meal. All we had to do was walk down the grassy hill.

It was magical…
Until the sprinklers came on.

Last week my family went to an acoustic Matt Maher concert celebrating the release of his new CD Saints and Sinners.

There weren’t as many people as I thought there would be… and I’m kinda’ grateful – because it was that much more intimate.

We bought his CD… got to shake his hand and have him sign it… and it has been on repeat ever since. Matt has some great songs… “Lord I Need You” “All God’s People Said Amen” “I’m Alive”… But, my new favorite is the last song on the CD and the last song he sang at the little concert.

It is based on Psalm 23 and it’s simply called “Rest”. The song came from a time shortly after his grandmother had passed away. When he was sharing the story, my ears perked up because I had recently returned from my own grandmother’s memorial.

I’ve read and heard the 23rd Psalm plenty of times… but, this song brought one part in particular to my attention and reminded me of that little pier on the lake where we served our friend’s dinner while the chaos of sprinklers sprayed all around us.

“Oh my Lord, You prepare a table for You and me
Oh my Lord, in the middle of a fight with my enemies
I trust in You, Oh I trust in You”

The whole Psalm is an incredible picture of our King… our Shepherd… caring for us so intimately even in the face of our enemies.

Can you imagine?

You are in the middle of a fight with your enemies – and the Lord is setting up a table right smack in the middle of it for you to come and dine with Him…

As if the fight is nothing to worry about.

As if it isn’t a fight we need to fight… rather, we can rest in His presence because He is smack there in the middle of it with us.

A friend challenged me to share on Facebook 7 life verses for 7 days. One of my favorites… and one that has had a deep impact on my view of life is Psalm 27:13-14

“I would have despaired
unless I had believed that
I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.”

We don’t have to choose despair when we look around and see the sprinklers coming on seeming to ruin everything.

We don’t have to choose despair when we are on the battlefield.

We don’t have to choose despair when everything around us is crazy-hard or not what we thought it would be.

We have HOPE because we can choose to believe in the promises of the living God…
that we will see the goodness of the Lord…
that He will prepare a table for you and Him…
right in the middle of the fight…
right in the middle of the impossible…
right in the middle of the hard.

Am I fighting when I need to come to the table and dine with my Shepherd?

Are you?

Come to the table and find rest.

“The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.