Growing Up
Table Talk
Setting the Table
You are welcome here. Come just as you are, bringing whatever is on your heart today. Take a few moments and allow yourself to just be. Take a couple deep breaths, grab yourself a cup of coffee, light a candle, do something that brings you comfort. Allow yourself to be present in this moment.
Consider how “growing up” often involves moments of “growing pains”.
If I could talk to my younger self, I would just say that the path to great things is filled with a lot of stumbles, suffering, and challenges along the way. But if you have the right attitude and know that hard times will pass — and you get up each time — you will reach your destination.
- Jonny Kim
Fear is nothing more than an obstacle that stands in the way of progress. In overcoming our fears we can move forward, stronger and wiser within ourselves.
- Anonymous
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Food for Thought
My life is pretty comfortable. But over the past year and a half, I’ve become increasingly aware of just how comfortable, how insulated, my life really is.
This awareness began in January of 2021 when I had the opportunity to go on a virtual mission trip to the Middle East, a five-day experience where a group of us met with an organization via Zoom to learn how they provide basic necessities like food, warmth, and education to those without sufficient access to it. Over the course of those five days, I began to reexamine my cozy apartment, my kitchen full of food, my closet — so stuffed with clothes I can barely close my drawers. My abundance, as compared to the majority of this world’s population, was glaringly evident to me.
I felt a sudden, urgent drive to put my hands to work, and to serve those who did not have the material means I had — not only so I could use my life toward the betterment of others, but also because I simply knew I needed to — as a person. I needed to expand my life experience beyond my very cushy comfort zone. I had some growing to do, some challenges to face, and some things to learn — about the world, and also about myself.
So, I was off! Within the year I signed up to go on a mission trip — my first mission trip ever! I was nervous, but very excited. I’d never had an experience like the one I was gearing up for, but I was ready for it…or so I thought.
As the departure date drew closer, the fiery excitement I initially felt began to be overshadowed by warnings I received from medical professionals, loved ones, our government, and myself — warnings about the area to which I was planning to travel, warnings about the array of worst-case-scenarios that could happen. Despite reassurances from missionaries who had, for decades, lived in that region, I couldn’t shake the fear that making the trip was not a wise decision.
After much deliberation, I chose to postpone my visit.
How could this be happening? Just one month earlier, I had been so ready for this new challenge — and now, how would I explain my decision when people asked about my upcoming travels?! I felt foolish and humiliated.
Myriad questions flooded my mind: Why had I really agreed to go on this trip in the first place — did I truly feel called to go and serve, or did the prospect just make me feel cool and adventurous? If I truly felt called to take this journey, why was I allowing my fear to win out over my faith? I regularly pray for God to give me the humility and courage to go where God calls me. Was this a test I had failed? Had God called my bluff?
I don’t want to downplay the advice of those who discouraged me from going on the mission trip — their warnings were grounded in the reality of instability and insecurity that many face in the area to which I planned to travel. But there is another reality that resides there as well — one of love and joy, excitement and welcome, camaraderie and intentional connection.
When my would-have-been-travel-buddy returned home from the trip, he regaled us with stories of life-changing discovery, heart-transforming friendships, sobering culture shock, and a longing to one day go back. And I ached with regret that I had not joined him.
Growth can be a scary concept — even when you know it’s necessary. Sometimes, growing up means you’re gonna bump your head a couple times. Sometimes it means having to make hard decisions about what’s right for you in the moment. And sometimes, it means admitting you were wrong.
I still wrestle with the questions that plagued me before. But while I may not have been ready for my trip at the time, I will continue to pray for guidance and clarity as I discern the paths to which God calls me — paths that will challenge me, stretch me, scare me. And I will continue to pray for the ability to walk those paths with humility and courage.
Choosing the right path for you can be tough. If you feel stuck at a crossroads, sit down for a few quiet moments of meditation or prayer to see if you can attain more clarity on the situation.
You can also try free-writing or free-drawing to creatively get in touch with what your subconscious is trying to tell you.
Our Welcoming Growth Journaling Page offers seven daily prompts to guide you as you look for ways to cultivate growth within yourself and the world around you this week! Feel free to print the journaling page, forward it to a friend, use it as inspiration for your own journaling practice (or group conversations), or maybe just a food for thought in your quiet time.
We hope you enjoy our Welcoming Growth Journaling Page!
Blessing
Loving Guide,
grant us clarity as we discern the paths to which you call us.
Give us the humility to set aside our own preconceived ideas for our lives and the courage to take you up on the challenges you place before us.
A little Table Talk for your table...
Talk about a time when you thought you were ready to take on a challenge, but weren’t quite as ready as you thought you were.
Share about another time when fear kept you from doing something you later wished you had done.
What lessons did you learn from each experience?
Try taking it to the Kids Table...
Talk to your child about what it means to grow up.
What are they looking forward to about growing up? What scares them about it?
Tell them about a time that you struggled through some “growing pains” — perhaps it was starting school, navigating the personal and social nuances of adolescence, or learning the hard truth about money management.
Meet Our Welcoming Voice!
June Dare Bunce is a native North Carolinian and one of the founders of The Welcome Table. Outside of TWT, she’s been a professional actor for the past fourteen years and has had the honor and pleasure of working as a drama instructor for organizations such as The Harlem Children’s Zone and the YMCA. When she’s not working on a script or at the office, you can either find her at the gym or on the yoga mat, walking around her adorable hometown, or working on the art of relaxing at home (it really is a skill).
To hear more from June throughout the week, follow along on our Instagram!
Here are Five Things to Remember When Setting Your Own Welcome Table!
If you have a story that you would like to be included as a Reader's Write feature, we'd love to hear from you! Message us on our contact page or email us at thewelcometableco@gmail.com.