The Turquoise Table by Kristin Schell

Author:Kristin Schell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Published: 2017-04-01T04:00:00+00:00

Debbie, who lives in Louisiana, also began wondering how she might use her Turquoise Table to connect with neighbors and get to know people in her new community.

Artist gatherings and a full box of prayers. Loving your neighbors doesn’t get much better than that.

“Our table started out like so many do,” said Debbie. “My kids would hang out, my husband would work at the table, and neighbors would stop by. And that in itself was wonderful. But then I got to thinking that I could really take this to the next level.”

A lifelong lover of the arts, Debbie quickly got involved in Shreveport’s thriving art and music scene. Their home is located close to an art museum, one of the city’s premier destinations. With her Turquoise Table so near the cultural center, Debbie felt she could not only continue to promote the arts but also provide a connection point for various types of art lovers (from hipsters to young families to empty-nesters) and for folks from various parts of town.

“Art and music draw people together, even those with different views and backgrounds,” she said. “So I started inviting several groups of people to use the Turquoise Table as part of their artistic events. I’ve hosted band parties and art shows, and it has been fantastic.”

Then Debbie noticed another need. She wondered how she might be able to pray for her neighbors without an awkward, “Hi, my name is Debbie, may I pray for you?” conversation. She remembered an unused wooden box her kids built for a game they never got around to playing. She painted the wooden box, added some notecards and pens, made a Prayer Box sign, and put it outside on the Turquoise Table.

Debbie didn’t expect much, but the next day she noticed the garbage man sitting at the table writing out a prayer request. A few days later, a truck driver stopped and took a photo of the Turquoise Table. Debbie doesn’t know if he left a prayer request, but that didn’t stop her from saying a prayer for him anyway.

“The prayer box has truly opened my eyes to the needs in my community. And changed my heart. Most of the cards don’t have names, but God knows the details,” Debbie said.

Debbie’s prayer box stays full. Every few days she brings the prayer-filled pieces of paper inside and puts them on her refrigerator so her family can say prayers for their neighbors too. She’s even enlisted the help of her Bible study group to help her keep up with the requests.

“Artist gatherings and a full box of prayers. Loving your neighbors doesn’t get much better than that,” said Debbie.

When we are present and begin to know our neighbors and the needs of the community by listening and being present, we see opportunities and ways transformation can begin to unfold in our communities.

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