don't it always seem to go

don't it always seem to go
that you don't know what you got till it's gone
they paved paradise and put up a parking lot 
                    (counting crows)

now, i realize that i am more tightly connected to the refectory than most others at school, but that also means that i know the power of the refectory better than many others.  the whole process of budget cuts envisioning has left me feeling a bit helpless in general.  this has improved as the president has begun to meet with students more regularly, but significant damage has already been done.  at the beginning of the year we did an envisioning exercise during which two themes arose (as i recall):

1-as students we both want and need more practical classes; we need to be able to connect our classes to our future ministry in real ways.

2-we want (and struggle to find) community.  with the busy schedules and myriad of activities available each week, it is not surprising that we have trouble with finding and creating community.  there are, however, two key places that community happens at lstc.  one is chapel.  as we engage together in daily worship, we come together with god and with each other to explore, to question, to struggle, to pray, to worship, and on wednesdays: to eat.  we share communion, community.

the other place that community happens is in the refectory.  throughout the bible and throughout my life food has been and continues to be something around which people gather.  a key component to hospitality, as sarah and abraham showed for the angels, is food.  food can just be nourishment, but when we come together to enjoy food and conversation, it becomes more than mere nourishment.

studies have shown that eating in front of a computer or tv is not good for health.  eating in community helps me and others to slow down in the midst of a busy day or week.  it helps me engage with others, catch up on life, be fed emotionally and physically.  as the refectory functions, with the amazing ministry of hospitality of gerry, jackie, and addie.  gerry gets what students are going through and works hard to make good food affordable.

one of my favorite times of the week happens each wednesday.  at 11:00 we head to chapel and as a community we hear the word preached and share the meal and then we flow over into the refectory for lunch and conversation.  this happens because of what the refectory provides.  there is food and drink, but more importantly, there is community.

staff and faculty reside in such different places, but all of us gather in the refectory.  not everyone utilizes the refectory, some people go home to make lunch, and i imagine they still will after the renovations and changes, but for now many of us come for a warm meal; for chicken pot pie, crispitos, quiche, and so many other delicious meals that gerry makes.

people come for the food and stay for the community, but if the food becomes the same kind of food that we can make at home for cheaper, then there won't be anything to bring people in the door and as much as we struggle for community now, that struggle will be even greater.  gerry works as hard as he does because he understands that what he does is ministry, but we will be hard-pressed to find another person who can run the refectory with the understanding that it is ministry.

i am afraid that we are paving paradise to put up a parking lot, but we won't know until it's too late to go back.  the refectory has been and continues to be a key ministry of lstc, but after may 15th i don't know what will become of it.  i will certainly lose a job, but i will lose a part of my ministry and i will lose my grandma, who i work with every thursday; my aunt jackie; and gerry.  the refectory is my family and that family is about to change and i'm afraid for what it will be changing into.