Presence at meal time !

The above are few photos serially, from among a larger collection of photos of two Bulbuls, at the feeding table in our courtyard. 

They seemed pausing while eating!

It gave me a message that for them, the meal time was also for being together. 

They paused for each other to have turns of pecking from the only banana fruit in the bowl. They took small bites and fed themselves sumptuously and slowly during that meal time. 

I looked back at the meal times around our table at our home.  

One message we left with our children when they were growing up was that the meal times were occasions for them to speak or ask. We avoided wandering too far into topics that were just information or news. We stayed confined to be personal and family centred. 

I recall an occasion of being at dinner time with a family when our children were young. The family meal time at supper was to talk bout oneself. Each of the five in the family took turn to say the happenings of the day and highlights that meant something. It was a fascinating sight to see the upbuilding process during that time of speaking and listening. 

A young couple with their two pre-school children told me how conversing got marginalised by viewing the TV and listening to music. 

Most restaurants that we visit have loud music playing or large screen showing entertainment, making it difficult to be present to each other in conversation. 

Rev. A.C.Oommen, a former chaplain of the Christian Medical College, Vellore  once told me that family meal times are conversation times to experience communion with each other. 

Presence and conversations for communion!

I hear stories of how relationships in the family are distant! I wonder whether parents feel drawn towards their children and children towards their parents with a desire to grow in intimacy!

A seven years old child told me, in a personal conversation, that 'my parents are angry and quarrelling with each other'!

The Bulbuls left with me a message that meal times are for, 'conversation for communion' !

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)