A Perspective

We're several days past the Great Thanksgiving Banquet (GTB) at the mission, and I think I'm ready to share my perspective on the event. I said earlier in the week that I liken the GTB to a second childbirth...you know what's going to happen, there's nothing you can do to stop it, so you just look forward to the joy of having it over. This year's preparation went better than the three previous years that I have been involved. We made several adjustments to our plans so that the day would flow more smoothly. I guess we were lulled into a false sense of well being, because when we opened the doors to our guests on Wednesday afternoon, the "labor pains" were fast and hard. For some reason, our guests were especially restless and contrary this year. We had more people than normal trying to get their food basket early because they supposedly have to leave for some reason. We don't waiver on our policy that everyone has to stay for the meal and the chapel service before the food is distributed. That didn't set well with some. Other guests refused to remain seated in their dining room until they were excused, and that also caused some tense moments. Let's just say that it wouldn't have taken much for the situation to turn rather volatile, and we staffers realized we were not prepared for that potential turn of events.

But the part of the GTB that is most disheartening to me each year is just looking at the faces of our guests. They reflect a lack of joy and peace either because of substance abuse issues, mental illness, or hopelessness about their condition. Some have never known any other existence, and they don't have the desire or drive to aspire to anything better. That's why we share the gospel with them. We know that but for the grace of God, we could be in the same hopeless state.

On a positive note, our volunteers were such a blessing. Their joy in serving encouraged us throughout the week. And their contribution to the GTB was invaluable: wrapping the utensils, sorting food donations, preparing the dressing, deboning 50 turkeys, donating over 100 pies, serving the pies, assembling the over 400 food baskets, setting up the dining rooms, indoor traffic, day care, registration, food basket distribution, chapel ministry and counseling, kitchen serving, dining room serving and clean-up. I'm thankful for such a wonderful group of people, many of whom return year after year because it's so much...fun (?).