A modern day parable

Church covered dish dinners … you either love them or hate them, but they are here to stay. Growing up in Miami I discovered that if you are near the end of the line you probably wouldn’t get much choice … if there was anything left for you to choose from. So, when I became a pastor I determined that that would NEVER happen under my watch. In my first parish in west Georgia the pastors all got together and planned out the summer schedule for Vacation Bible Schools … we didn’t want any conflicting dates because that was a part of the communities “baby-sitting” service to the workers at the manufacturing plant. The entire community would then gather every Friday evening during the summer for a covered dish dinner sponsored by the VBS hosting church. When it was my church’s turn I asked them to bring 2 dishes … that ought to be enough food I thought. “Are you sure you want us to bring 2 dishes preacher?” they kept asking over and over and over again. I held my ground … 2 dishes. And, so on that evening in came the food … lots of food and I means LOTS because what they failed to share with me was that a covered dish for them meant a salad, vegetable, starch, meat and desert … we could have feed a small army … literally … but nobody went hungry that was for sure.

The best part of any covered dish dinner is always the sharing of some fantastic deserts. I must confess that I probably put on over 12 lbs in deserts allow at every church I served ... only to have to go on a crash diet to attempt to take it off again and again and again. I'm still carrying some of the last deserts around with me. Here is a modern day parable that has been making the rounds about this.

Woman and a Fork
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things “in order,” she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. ”There’s one more thing,” she said excitedly. “What’s that?” came the Pastor’s reply. ”This is very important,” the young woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.”

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say. “That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the young woman asked. “Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,” said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. “My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, “Keep your fork.” It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming ... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!”

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder “What’s with the fork?” Then I want you to tell them: “Keep your fork ... the best is yet to come.”

The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand.. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, “What’s with the fork?” And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died.. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So the next time you reach down for your fork let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed, cherish the time you have, and the memories you share ... being friends with someone is not an opportunity, but a sweet responsibility.

And just remember...keep your fork!

Quote for today: The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it. Debbi Fields, founder of Mrs. Fields cookie shops.