The high school cafeteria

OK! So, we are on the second of our modern day parables. Inspired by Rob Bell and his take in his blog on random everyday situations

The kingdom of God is like…….

The high school cafeteria.
You have made it past the first two periods. The bell finally rings and finally……

It’s lunch time.

You snag your paper sack lunch packed with the perfect turkey sandwich. As you stroll into the lunch room you search the room for your friends and you spot them and move past the lunch line. You see the less than edible selections. 

What do they even make those mash potatoes with? 

You’re thankful your mom packed your lunch. You see all the kids settling into their regular groups jocks, artists and math nerds. Everyone, for the most part, including Greg. He's the principles son. Nice kid, good grades, plays basketball. Normally sits with the popular kids. As you over hear conversations about the latest

Fill in the blank. Sports score, technological gadget, controversy, video game, etc.

You see Colby making eye contact with Greg. Colby the ultimate math wizard and running for class president. You wonder is that about the intense debate that happened in political science class this morning around the governments system of health care. Both have their groups that they flex around to so it’s not odd for these two to be talking, but this lunch time routine today seems different.

 Colby goes over and stands next to Greg.

 Exchange a moment of silence. 

You catch Greg's dad principle Krumpski scanning the room ensuring the lunchroom is in order. He makes eye contact with the two boys and smile. Greg's makes room for Colby and begin to have a normal conversation about Saturday night. You unwrap your sandwich.

Here is what

Novitas church came up with

-Getting into the kingdom is the equivalent of eating your lunch and there may be obstacles and battles on the journey but eventually you will get the feast

(Love the focus around the food. Maybe there is not just one big one at the end maybe we experience the feast at multiple points along the journey as well. Interesting) 

-Everyone has their place in the kingdom, however there shouldn’t be any hindrances or rules dictating out place. There is natural order that we long for, and are also happy to see the evolution of this. 

(Everybody gets to play, everybody is a part of the kingdom)

-Gay romance between Greg and Colby. They are perfect together. Even dad approves. It’s a happy time.

- The kingdom brings together unlikely people. It is a break we look forward to in the middle of our day. You will find all kinds of people there. Some you expect and some you don’t but yet everyone from the school is still all there, together. 

-At certain moments we long for the comfort of the kingdom. Just like our sandwich 

 

- Everyone has their own spot, their own purpose. Longing for lunch time. Longing for the kingdom.

-It is full of individuals and groups of people. It is also a place to get fed both physically and intellectually. Each person has a part to play and their own contribution. Relationships are also found here.

Here is a little background to the story

What you don't know about Greg is that he's gay. The battles, the struggles for the past 4 years. Most have been accepting, friends and family but not his dad. You see Colby and Greg have grown up together. When Greg finally made his decision to accept who he was. Colby was the first person he told. He also was there as his best friend to help Greg tell his dad about who he really was. The two have grown apart since entering high school but still share the bond of Greg’s life changing experience of telling his dad about his homosexuality.
Just like the kingdom where everyone is invited. Everyone is accepted.

Bonus question:

What's the significance of Colby and Greg's conversation about Saturday night?