In my hurry to clear the next table, a woman’s outstretched hand caught my eye. She was seated at one of our Flash Tables between what seemed to be her daughter and an empty seat.
As I turned around to meet her gaze, she gently asked, “Ma’am? Do you mind sitting down with me?”
This was only my second Flash Table and by far the biggest. In 100 degree summer weather, on a street corner in DC, we had managed to set 6 tables shaded with tents in hopes of providing nourishment and community to those passing by. At this point, I was sweaty and tired so frankly, I thanked this woman internally for the excuse to sit down.
As I sat, she leaned over to say,
“I just wanted to take a moment to thank you. This is really an amazing thing…
Things are really tight right now. Just before this I was walking and worrying about what I was going to feed my babies today and then we ran straight into this. My daughter said, ‘Mama we can’t go there, it’s only for homeless people’ but I said, ‘No baby, I think it’s for everyone.’
The woman continued, “I’m always giving my money away to the community and those who need it and people always say ‘why do you keep doin’ that when you can’t even afford to?’ But I always tell them, ‘Whenever I give away, God always gives back. And He gives me even more. This table reminded me of that today. So thank you. God is so good.”
It’s coming alongside one another, stranger and friend, and reminding one another of our common humanity. That we are not alone. That our stories, struggles, and burdens do matter.
It’s serving and being served.
These Flash Tables are a time of encouragement and hope not just for guests but for those serving as well. These meals, abundant in flavor and spice, overflow even more with grace and dignity.
We will be setting plenty more tables the remainder of the summer and would love to have you join us. Check out our events calendar here.
