Day 30 | Francis & Olivia’s story

Reflection

Pharisees saw their dining tables as mini temples. Who you ate with said a lot about who you believed was included in the kingdom of God. Jesus happily ate with tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners because he believed they could be included in God’s kingdom.

Francis and Olivia moved into their street never expecting to know any of their neighbours. They’d moved to 2 Heathfield Road in the big city from a small town where you didn’t lock your front door –but here, it was very much deadbolt and braces.

Fear was a real factor holding them back from reaching out to their neighbours. But a window of opportunity opened. Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding was coming up. The perfect excuse for a street party.

Francis and Olivia came up with a simple plan – put a flyer through everyone’s door inviting them to come and bring a dish that represented them. The street was diverse, with at least a dozen nationalities – but would they respond?

On the day of the party, working on the ‘if you build it, they’ll come’ principle, they closed the street, put up a gazebo, set out tables and chairs, and prayed, ‘Lord, please let them come!’

And they did, one after the other. Each proudly carrying a dish that uniquely represented them. Neighbours enjoyed sharing curried goat, rice and peas, samosas, jollof rice, and, yes, even the humble quiche. They also shared their stories, talked about their families, and even shared their fears.

For Heathfield Road, this was the beginning of what one neighbour today proclaims to be the best street in London. Francis and Olivia discovered the purpose of quiche and jollof rice – they were so much more than delicious dishes. They had the ability to unlock people’s doors and open their lives to their neighbours.

Lord, help me find the courage to invite a neighbour out for coffee or over for food. May they be open to my invitation. Amen.