When I think of the word Table there are a flood of thoughts and emotions that fill my mind. From the time we are old enough to sit in a high chair, strapped in, and pulled close to the edge of the table, we are taught that the table brings sustenance, connection, and a place to be seen and known.
I love wooden tables. I like glass tables too but a wooden table speaks to a deeper place within me. The seed that grew the tree that is now placed in the center of my dining room. The hands that touched the table before I placed my own anointing on it. The creative person behind the architectural design that fashioned the table from thought to completion. There are so many steps that take place before a table is placed in our lives, in our care.
I grew fond of the beautiful claw foot table of my childhood. It was handed down to our family from a generation before. Someone had sanded it. Varnished it. Made it more beautiful than perhaps it had been before. The claw feet at the bottom of the extended legs formed a natural place for me to rest my feet while around the table. Sometimes as a little person I would place my left foot on one claw foot and extend the right leg over to the next claw foot, then lean backwards while gripping the rounded edges of the tabletop. The table represented strength to me. It was solid. Dependable. Steady.
The table followed us from move to move. It became the center piece of our lives. A place where conversations took place. A place we laughed and cried together. A place where fresh garden food was placed and we ate our fill. We celebrated birthdays at this table. There were hard conversations at this table. There was love at this table.
Some of you may not know why this Substack is named “The Table.” Others are learning as we gather each Wednesday at Table Conversations what the importance of Table means to me in my own personal life. How the table of my childhood was physically taken from our kitchen by a complete stranger. How the table of the Eucharist also became out of reach… not all are welcome at the Table of Communion.
The twists and turns (I call them Sacred Turnings) of life expand us. Open us. Remind us that Spirit is always present. Even when things don’t align or make sense. She is present. She is teaching. She is expanding.
Two tables were removed from my life so I have taken the wooden table of my upbringing along with the table of communion and have expanded it to a digital table. I felt a deep place within my spirit inviting me to expand the Table of Love. To open a place during the week where we can gather, commune, and be reminded that Wisdom, Spirit, and Love is open to all. This is how The Table and Table Conversations emerged.
If you have lost something you have treasured from your childhood pay attention to the longing of what was lost, taken, or removed.
Spirit hovers around these deep places within us. She reminds us that we can expand and not shrink. That we can release and not hide. When we are asked to ‘not partake’ of the Table of Love because we are told we are ‘not worthy,’ know that Spirit is in the business of expanding a Table where all are welcome.
In June at Table Conversations we will be sharing from Cynthia Bourgeault’s book, Eye of the Heart. If you don’t have the book feel free to join for the conversation. It is sure to be a delicious one. Or grab a copy of the audio or hard copy and join or read along.
In July at Table Conversations we are excited to share from Meggan Watterson’s book, The Girl Who Baptized Herself. This launches July 22 during the week of the Feast of our Beloved Mary Magdalene. We will also prepare a time of connection for her Feast Week during the week of July 22, 2025. Stay tuned for those details.
In August at Table Conversations we plan to hear stories from women who have been led by Spirit to expand Loves Table. More to follow regarding the story sharing.
Finally, if you have a table story I would love to hear it. Share it here in the comments, add a photo of your current or childhood table. Share what Table means to you and how it serves your personal and spiritual connections.
Love Expands the Table ~ Shelly
P.S. If you have not yet taken a minute to offer your support of GirlChurch please add your name here. We have two Substack Live Events happening in June and July that you will want to know about.
P.S.S. To join Table Conversations on Wednesdays simply reply to this email for the details for how to do so or follow Table Chat. Either way you will be welcomed.
