11/14/06 Our Father, we come again saddened by still another empty chair, and yet grateful for the opportunity of our friendship and our fellowship here together. Help us to know how to respond – to reach out, and to support Marilyn and her family in their days ahead. Amen
Empty chairs. We see them at work and at church. Many families will have their first experience of this in the following week.
Dad’s seat at the table. Mom’s seat close to the kitchen to fetch hot gravy.
Responding to an empty chair is required and painful. Don’t ignore or remove it. It may be that seating rotates, and one from the “kids’ table” is promoted. Celebrate the promotion. Celebrate the chair turf we all occupy, we wouldn’t be here without the empty chairs that have gone before us.
Today’s prop, a composition notebook reminds me of my homeschooling days with my sons. Today is my eldest’ birthday. His seat will be empty at Thanksgiving, but hopefully filled at another time.
Lord, help us know how to respond to the empty seats that are still occupied. Those empty of hope, or empty of trust in You. Those empty of willingness to move forward in the gloom. Those empty of faith because their heart has been pierced and it has slowly seeped out.
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