“Do you think the little children have any idea what they are doing?”

My friend was a little concerned about the United Methodist practice of inviting everyone to the table during communion. She had noticed that there was no membership requirement and partaking wasn’t reserved for those of a certain age. She seemed particularly concerned about the children.

I couldn’t help myself, my response was, “I doubt they do. I know I certainly don’t.”

Of course I’m used to doing a lot of things that I don’t understand. I don’t understand my desire to embrace the people I love but I embrace them anyway. I don’t understand why I feel inspired when I look at the sky but I look anyway. And, I certainly don’t understand how peace comes to my anxious heart when I pray but I pray anyway.

There are a lot of things I don’t understand and I really don’t understand very much about the bread and wine. About all I really know is:
– Christ is present
– When we gather at the table we remember the story, our story, that says we are lovingly created and faithfully cared for even when we fall short.
– That Jesus told us to take, bless, break, give, and remember. He gave these instructions on the night he was headed for the cross.
– That he used words like “all” and “many” and the whole thing begins with an invitation to all who seek.
– That our hope is that this eating and drinking will change our hearts, make us one, and give us strength to serve.

Now that I think about it, maybe I do get it on a deeper level than the three year old being carried in her father’s arms as she receives the bread from her pastor. After all, I’ve written a couple of graduate papers on this stuff.

Or, maybe, in that sacred moment, as she is gently carried, reminded that she is loved, and nourished by a broken piece of bread and grape juice, she gets it more than me.