Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Set the Table
For the past several years I have had the opportunity to join some of my Methodist friends at an annual luncheon their church hosts as a missions fundraiser. I always look forward to it and have been greatly disappointed the few years I have not been able to attend.
This luncheon is a rarity in today's times. It involves beautiful table settings and generations of women working together to accomplish a common goal.
Each year has a theme - this year's was "100 Years of Oklahoma Hospitality". Each table hostess names their table theme which is then printed in the program and on a table card. This year table names included: Land Run Luncheon - a western themed table; Ties that Bind - a table featuring family heirloom jewelery; and Oh, What a Beautiful Morning - complete with black and white photos from "Oklahoma!".
It is always amazing to see the tables and I always arrive early for the "viewing". I am a closet dishes freak and these ladies pull out no stops with their place settings and table scapes. I leave inspired and appreciative of the art of setting a table - something that is not done often these days.
But what makes my heart sing is the interaction and learning that takes place between the generations. The older generation has taught the younger ones the proper way of setting a table (it is rumored that all tables are inspected and any out of place pieces suddenly find their proper placing overnight) and such things as how to charge a coffee pot (how to fill it with hot water for 30 minutes before using it to serve coffee, thereby warming the pot and keeping it from cooling off too quickly). I honestly have to get out an entertaining book to set a proper table if it has any extra pieces other than my daily norm.
And the older generation has learned from the younger generation about things such as menu changes (congealed salads are really not a necessity) and willingness to pass the torch.
Although these things are good lessons, they do not really touch the heart of the real learning that takes place, the intangible one I see each year.
The lesson of honor and respect among the generations is the lesson that truly makes the difference.
simple faith
For the past several years I have had the opportunity to join some of my Methodist friends at an annual luncheon their church hosts as a missions fundraiser. I always look forward to it and have been greatly disappointed the few years I have not been able to attend.
This luncheon is a rarity in today's times. It involves beautiful table settings and generations of women working together to accomplish a common goal.
Each year has a theme - this year's was "100 Years of Oklahoma Hospitality". Each table hostess names their table theme which is then printed in the program and on a table card. This year table names included: Land Run Luncheon - a western themed table; Ties that Bind - a table featuring family heirloom jewelery; and Oh, What a Beautiful Morning - complete with black and white photos from "Oklahoma!".
It is always amazing to see the tables and I always arrive early for the "viewing". I am a closet dishes freak and these ladies pull out no stops with their place settings and table scapes. I leave inspired and appreciative of the art of setting a table - something that is not done often these days.
But what makes my heart sing is the interaction and learning that takes place between the generations. The older generation has taught the younger ones the proper way of setting a table (it is rumored that all tables are inspected and any out of place pieces suddenly find their proper placing overnight) and such things as how to charge a coffee pot (how to fill it with hot water for 30 minutes before using it to serve coffee, thereby warming the pot and keeping it from cooling off too quickly). I honestly have to get out an entertaining book to set a proper table if it has any extra pieces other than my daily norm.
And the older generation has learned from the younger generation about things such as menu changes (congealed salads are really not a necessity) and willingness to pass the torch.
Although these things are good lessons, they do not really touch the heart of the real learning that takes place, the intangible one I see each year.
The lesson of honor and respect among the generations is the lesson that truly makes the difference.
simple faith
# posted by simple faith : 7:59 AM
