Tuesday at the Table

Since I work in a fairly large church, the Christmas season is crazy busy, so our staff decided to postpone the annual Christmas party till after the hub-bub was over. So over the weekend, we gathered for our traditional potluck and gift exchange. Considering there were nearly 30 of us there, that meant quite alot of potluck dishes coming to the party. So I was a bit surprised when I sidled up to my friend "M" at the kitchen island, and saw she was arranging a large array of appetizers that she had brought. She saw my reaction, and blurted out, "I'm celebrating! It's two years since my procedure, and I want to share all of my favorite foods!" wow. There was a huge sushi platter(!), crackers and chipotle dip over cream cheese, barbecued pork with mustard and soy and sesame seeds. . . along with a bottle of Champagne.

Of course I knew what she was talking about. Two years earlier, she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor, given just months to live. I had been at a small gathering just two Christmases ago, where a mutual friend, in their deep shock and grief, asked, "What if the doctors are wrong?" To which M replied, "They aren't. I've had lots of tests that prove them right." Except that when they went in to do surgery a week later, all the doctors and all the tests had been wrong! Instead of doing major surgery, a routine procedure was done to fix M's problem. It was a real-life miracle.

So I stood there with M Saturday night, snacking and just enjoying her presence. And it hit us both hilarious when she accidently bumped me and my wine glass sloshed all of its contents on and down my (favorite) shirt. I tell ya, I'll take a good sloshing from a walking miracle any day.

Now I know, believe me, I know, that miracles don't always happen. But when they do, it's a perfect time to gather around the table, even if it's an island in the kitchen, and celebrate.