Room for One More

So there's a big game this Sunday night.  Some giant guys are playing some patriotic ones.  They hail from two cities we don't care much about unless we live there.  Most people have never met any of the players.  But that doesn't matter.  They will pummel each other over a funny shaped ball for about three hours.  I don't know why they just don't give each team one.  Then they wouldn't have to fight over it.  

I know it's a big deal, because I've been invited to three different parties, even though they know we have worship services at the time. They have assured me that they would have room for one more.  It's great to get the invite, but did they really think I might skip leading a service in order to see the game?

There's a lot to be said, though, about making room for one more.  I remember when we used to have family dinners growing up. Frequently, my grandfather would come waltzing in just in time to sit down to eat.  It was okay to do that where I come from.  Friends could call a half hour before the meal and invite themselves over.  Once in a while my relatives would call and say they were in town and would like to visit for a couple of days.  An hour later they would be at the front door.  This unfortunately happens less often now as families move geographically and emotionally farther and farther apart.

The tradition of the empty chair is a fixture at the greatest Jewish feast of the year, called Passover.  Malachi reminded the Hebrews that an empty chair at the table, and a front door left slightly ajar, symbolically welcomes Elijah to come and join the feast.

These days people seem to be able to find room for one more person at the big party, or one more charge on the credit card, or one more shirt (on sale!), or one more toy in the garage, or one more dessert.  I've been guilty of all of them.    But what would it take to make room for one more name on our "need to visit list," one more hour of volunteer work, one more call to someone who is lonely or struggling in some way , or one more meal for someone who is hungry?  Probably taking something away.  Or as Jesus would say:  "Stop building barns you don't need."