Last night, two of us from the monthly Il Fornaio crew went there without the crew. The hostess and some of the wait staff said, “Only two?” (We informed them that the crew is coming next Saturday.)
So, what’s the big deal? Well, there is something about being recognized as a neighborhood–even if the recognizers do not call it that. Sure, this happens all the time: if you frequent a restaurant enough, they will begin to recognize you (which of course brings handy benefits). It’s not the mere recognition that is the point; it’s that the crew has been recognized as belonging together. It’s a small validation, but it is a validation.
Of course, this means we need to watch ourselves, for we are being noticed. This is both good and dangerous. It is good because our living as community is being communicated. It is dangerous because it is imperative that we communicate community in Christ. Of course, it was imperative before; now the command is more obvious.
This is a very good thing.
