Bread and Pineapple Juice

In case you didn't know, I'm a huge introvert. Being around people drains me. Crowds freak me out. I love being alone.

Thankfully, I was able to spend time with people way more this summer than I normally do; that prepared me for these past two weeks. I have been with my team of 7 other stinters practically non-stop. I love them, but oh, has this been draining.

Last night, I was super drained. It had been a long week of adjusting to life in Ghana, and we had decided to spend the day at the beach. A day in the sun. The sun drains me even more than being around people.

And the fact that I was drained started to show as the day went on. I became super cranky. I muttered my frustration under my breath. I avoided conversation. I was longing for our return to the bungalow on the University of Ghana's campus.

After our pit stop at Shop-Rite for groceries for the night's meal, we were finally on our way home. I began making my plans for the evening. While everyone else ate, I would shower and be sand- and sunscreen-free. I would eat alone once they were done. Be alone. Rest. Oh, what an ideal plan!

We returned to the bungalow to find that we were without running water. My plans were immediately defeated. I was even more frustrated. I hid in my room for a few minutes but came out to join my team for supper. The menu was excitingly American and simple: bread, peanut butter, pineapple, bananas, crackers, cookies, and pineapple juice.

The bread was difficult to cut, so it was very ragged. We didn't have plates or napkins. We just sat around the living room eating hunks of bread. We didn't have glasses, so we passed around the carton of pineapple juice and took swigs out of it. I joked that it was like communion but instead of having grape juice, we had pineapple juice! It is tastier. Yum!

After my decently lame joke, I realized how true that statement was. Here we were, a group of eight who has so many differences, who has already experienced tension, coming together and sharing our food, our faith, and our lives. In that moment, I realized why Jesus cared so much that the church would continue to come together to break bread and why the early church with the Apostles do it so often and make a point to record it. Something happened in our living room over that simple meal; we experienced unity, and my attitude dramatically changed.

In Acts 2, right after the Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost and 3,000 people believe and are baptized after Peter preaches, the believers form a community. "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer" (Acts 2:42 NLT).

I've been committed to the gospel (the apostles' teaching) and to prayer, but I must admit that a commitment to fellowship and sharing in meals is relatively new to me. And it's still difficult for me. But I'm realizing more and more that the community present in fellowship and sharing in meals is something that the Lord greatly desires.

The Acts story continues with "A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity [sincere hearts] — all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved" (Acts 2:43-47, emphasis added).

Community is meant to be enjoyed. It gives life, a fresh perspective. And sharing a loaf of warm bread and a carton of pineapple juice adds so much to it. Although I'm still an introvert who loves time alone, I'm committing to fellowship, sharing in meals with true joy and a sincere heart, and enjoying the goodwill of ALL the people I'm with, even if they are the ones I've been with for too long. It's what God desires for me. And I know it's good; it has the power to change my negative attitude. It has the power to make me better understand the gospel and be more like Christ.

Let's all strive to experience fellowship, to be united, and to rejoice in the blessings we're receiving from our Lord, especially when it's people that stretch our grace, love, and patience. It's what God does for us and with us, and it's what he's calling us to do.

Enjoy your daily dose of bread and pineapple juice!