Table For2itous

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My wife and I celebrated our anniversary a few months ago. We went down to Pacific Grove for the weekend, and on Saturday morning we enjoyed a lovely walk along the coast. No particular destination, just out for a walk. As the morning was coming to an end, we started talking about when and where to grab lunch. Through the wonders of the internets, we saw a place we could walk to that would open about 20 minutes after we got there. We decided to do that instead of heading back to the inn and driving somewhere to eat. It had good reviews and the pictures made the place look good inside.

But when we got there, it looked a little shabby on the outside. We started looking at the menu posted on the door, and although we found some things we could get, there wasn’t anything that inclined us to wait there to eat.

We were just about to walk away, when one of the servers opened the door, and offered to seat us, and could even bring us drinks while we waited until they officially opened. The man was so welcoming, and to offer us to not only sit down but to have a drink while we waited sold us on staying there to eat.

And boy howdy, are we glad we did.

The food.

So. Good.

And the server? Better than the food. He was present, and welcomed a conversation. And this man was one of those servers that wasn’t just working – they were living. He served and with a humble pride (yeah, that’s a thing). It was so refreshing, because have you ever felt like you were being an inconvenience to someone because they had to do their job?

When I was working at the church, if someone came in early for a meeting or a gathering, but the door was locked, too often I would just stay hidden in my office, or I’d expect them to wait outside until it was closer to the start time. Why did I think that my time was so valuable to do what I wanted, that I wasn’t willing to be more hospitable and welcome them in?

And hey, we aren’t food critics. Maybe the food wasn’t as good as we thought (it was). But being welcomed in – not begrudgingly but sincerely and joyfully – put is in a positive and appreciative mood, and maybe that elevated our taste buds or allowed us to be less critical.

How much of a difference would it make if we were truly and sincerely hospitable in our community? Not because we had to be, but because we didn’t allow ourselves to get jaded or grouchy because of the negative aspects of our ministry.

So thank you, Eduardo, for spectacular hospitality and service.

Oh, and to Fishwife Restaurant – thanks for all the fish.

(Fishwife Restaurant did not pay me to write this article. But I wouldn’t be opposed to them doing so, or sending me a gift card to go back again.)