A Remarkable Dinner

Jesus exhibited the characteristics of a servant; ultimately humbling Himself before death so that we
might have new life. He calls us to be humble and kind to others. Philippians 2 states:
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

We are called to look outside ourselves and to see the world, and the residents of it, through the eyes of Jesus.  His nature is that of humility, and we are given the capacity to show kindness toward other people.  Later in this chapter of Philippians, Paul writes how Jesus came to earth as a man, a sacrificial act of humility, so that He might be exalted.  The Bible teaches us to be humble before God, and that involves putting down self-reliance and relying on the Spirit.

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We are called to exhibit kindness; it is listed among the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5.  We
can read this in Colossians 3 about our mindest and demeanor:
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

You might not think that a simple dinner at a Bar-B-Q restaurant in Alabama would make national news and become a social media sensation, but such a meal recently has certainly touched hearts.

Jamario Howard, a 23-year-old African-American man from Lincoln, Alabama, was eating at Brad's Bar-B-Que in Oxford with two of his friends, when he noticed an older, white woman sitting a booth in the restaurant - alone.  The website for the Today show related:

Howard said he consulted his friends and they decided he should join the woman at her table.

He said he approached the woman, asking if he could sit with her. She agreed and introduced herself as Eleanor.

Howard said that Eleanor told him all about her grandchildren, the volunteer work she does at a local hospital and the activities she and her husband used to do together. She also shared that her husband had passed away and that the next day, April 19, would have been their 60th wedding anniversary.

The three men asked her to join them for dinner, which lasted for 45 minutes.  The website article says:

“Always be kind,” Howard explained. “It can go a long way for you and a long way for them.”

Howard said that he has seen Eleanor a few times since their dinner last week. The two plan to keep in touch.

The post on Facebook, which was embedded in the article, has generated over a quarter of a million responses.  Jamario wrote:

The point in this is always be kind and be nice to people. You never know what they are going through. This woman changed my outlook on life and how i look at other people. Everyone has a story so do not judge! And people i can’t stress this enough. GO SEE YOUR MOM AND YOUR GRANDPARENTS. They miss you!!

CBS News interviewed the woman, Eleanor Baker, who is 80. She is quoted as saying: "I think it was a God thing. I think God sent me there..."    The CBS article also says:

And certainly, if Eleanor's right that God played any role in this, it may be to remind us of the joy that awaits just outside the bubbles we live in.

Jamario related, "I used to say when I was younger, and I still say today, I want to change the world somehow," adding, "And I don't know how. I'm not rich. I'm not famous. And I'm not very smart either, so I can't be president."  He went on to say, "But we can show the world it's alright to be kind...And then, before long, maybe the world will be a much better place."

Notice the dynamics here - three young black men and an older white women, demonstrating the power of connection.  You know, there is so much that can divide us: race, age, and culture, but these barriers can be overcome; kindness can unite us.

The CBS News story referred to the "bubbles we live in."  We can become accustomed to certain ways to live, locked into certain routines, spending time with the same people - perhaps God is calling us outside our comfort zones, to do something really different, to reach outside your "bubble."

Finally, we can heighten our spiritual sensitivity; consider who is "alone" in your world?  There are people in need all around us, and we can be reliant on the Holy Spirit to direct us to those who need a connection; at just the right time and place.