“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat . . .” – Matthew 25:35
There is an old Jewish parable which describes a scene from hell in which the condemned are, surprisingly, sitting together around a banquet table where a sumptuous feast is set before them (imagine Thanksgiving), except everyone is screaming out in agony because, due to their arms being stiffened, they are unable to feed themselves and enjoy the feast. Likewise, the parable describes a scene from heaven the exact same way, including the stiffened arms. Except in heaven the dinner guests are all laughing and enjoying a grand celebration, with their stiffened arms extending across the table feeding one another.
You should have seen the surprised expression on Sam’s face recently when he showed up for work at Hugs Café, where Tee and I volunteer two days a week. Sam had just passed his driver’s test, and if that was not excitement enough, there awaiting his arrival were his “teammates” / colleagues, kitchen staff, volunteers, even the customers having lunch, all standing and cheering and congratulating him as he walked through the door.
The other day I found myself caught up in one of those conversations we all probably engage in far too often about all the bad things going on in the world. Suddenly, without thinking, I interrupted with something that surprised even me. “Everyone should have a chance to work at Hugs Café,” I blurted out. “At Hugs only good things happen!” Sam’s story is a prime example, only it is not unique, it happens every day, as success stories happen every day, dreams come true every day and are celebrated every day. As for Sam, earning his driver’s license has been years in the making, now a dream come true.
“Hugs Café,” according to its website, “is a non-profit social enterprise . . . dedicated to providing meaningful training and competitively-paid employment for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is our passion to offer a place of hope, understanding, grace, and success [HUGS] to each individual so they may be recognized for their abilities and talents in the community,” a place where only good things happen.
Like all restaurants, Hugs’ business is feeding people. But as Sam’s story attests it is also a place where, like the heavenly banquet, people feed each other. May Thanksgiving be like that for all of us, a time for reaching out to feed each other, and being thankful.