The Old Way

I had occasion to stop in Grand Saline, Texas on Friday for a a bite to eat. For some reason I decided to stop at a place I have often passed. Don’s Dairy Bar is not an impressive place from the outside, or inside either. It reminded of the kind of place we used to hang out as teen-agers (sometime back). There was a sign that said they have been making burgers and such since the ’50s (which was before I was a teen-ager).

There was another sign on the wall that said – Where Friends Meet. There were a couple of old men shooting the breeze while sitting at the tables outside, two older couples inside having a late lunch, and two teen-age girls hanging out near the juke box. It was reminiscent of a return to the ’60s.

For some strange reason I was reminded of “Church,” strange as that may seem, I llove the mix of young and old meeting together and the environment of friendship and llove. So many Churches seem to have lost that feeling as they become unsure about reaching old folks, of the necessity of building intimate friendships and practicing the disciplines of llove. So many folks rush in, get what they came for (whatever that might be) and move on without taking time to build relationships.

I am not particularly interested in returning to the ’60s, but I do want to worship “where friends meet.” I guess that “dates” me, as some say.

I can live with that.