by Chuck Gould

Anyone privileged to serve with the Wednesday night dinner crew will be blessed by the experience. I have no doubt that Jesus is at Bethany on Wednesday nights. We can see the work of His hands in the pans of steaming food, and His twinkling eyes in the smiles of the students who come to dish up for our guests. We find His heart in the kitchen, and His family lined up outside the door. Each week, we rediscover that God will fill us back up faster than we can pour ourselves out.

Every week has a memorable moment. We often serve milk to our guests as they arrive. Chocolate milk is particularly appreciated. One of our regular dinner guests has long remarked, “I’d sure love to drink some of that chocolate milk, but I better not. I’m lactose intolerant and it could make me sick.” Last week, I remembered that particular guest and added a quart of “Silk” chocolate soymilk to the cart.

As the guests came in at 5:30, I watched specifically for the lactose intolerant gentleman to arrive. I carried the carton of soy milk over to where he was sitting, and poured him a glass. He beamed brighter than a halogen bulb. “You got that especially for me, didn’t you? Wow! This is fantastic! It means you thought about me, and almost nobody ever thinks about me.”

I just smiled and said, “Somebody is thinking about you all the time.” It’s amazing to watch a glass of chocolate soymilk become a vessel of the Gospel. Blessed and privileged to serve, indeed.