Most of us experience it at least once a year. The blessing of a shared meal at Thanksgiving can be transforming. Often family and friends gather from diverse places with diverse opinions and approaches. Just consider the controversies of “stuffing vs. dressing” or “pumpkin vs. apple pie.” Yet at that table—at that meal—differences fade into the background, if only for a moment. We accept each other in a way that rises above the day-to-day realities we consider so important. The unifying power of a meal has been observed from ancient times. The story of Jesus is punctuated with many transforming meals. The risen Christ can help us find each other and himself at the table.
