Table Talk.
A short story by Heidi
“It was Haloween that was the worst festival. That had pagan roots too but in the Twentieth century it became a focal point to CELEBRATE evil!”
Owen ap Morgan finished speaking. He was a burly 5’9’’ Welshman from Aberteifi.
Owen came from a long line of Quakers and his generaton were no less committed than his forefathers, his own father had been a minister on the USS Tiananmen. Owen was not ordained, but he had made friends with people easily since his first day on the USS Soltan.
Some of them met with him once a week to share lunch and talk about the Christian faith. He had just covered why Christians didn’t celebrate certain festivals. Across the canteen table sat his best friend, Alessandro DiRossi. A tall bronzed communicatons officer. They had been through the euronasa Academy together. Next to Owen sat the coloured Afrikaaner, Sarah Goodman, A private in security department. She had been the very first convert and was baptised 2 weeks ago. Next to Alessandro, sat their non-Terran friend Ppal Redd who came from the Alpha Centauri system.
Owen found the young man from the
Catering corps exuberant and uplifting. He was also humble and cheerful (though he did have his ‘off days’ like anyone else). He would greet people with the customary Centauri “ Bontago!” every day. His enthusiasm was infectious.
And when Owen introduced his friends to worship by belting out ‘How great is our God’, Ppal had been quick to join in with his Xylotar (a Centauri musical instrument).
They were gelling together as friends well, on this their first assignment to make a new colony.
Sarah asked Allesandro to pass the salt…
“Thankyou” she said to his passing of the salt, to which he replied “Prego”
The friends munched through their lunch and relaxed with a second round of beverages, picking up their earlier discussion. Sarah, whose family had been atheists for generations looked a little perplexed.
“Verskoon my…” she began – and Owen could see she was desperately trying to work something out, or recall something.
“….but don’t Christians hold Sunday as special?, in which case you have MORE special days than those other faiths !”
Owen pondered on how to answer. Jesus used a question to answer a question, at times, so he considered…even though Sarah had found new faith recently she was still keen to test him. She was hungry to learn, but Owen was going to take an example of the lord’s.
“Well, Sarah – you’re right, in a way. But it isn’t a question of how many but the focus of the celebration.
So what do we celebrate each Sunday, Sarah?”
“We celebrate the Lord’s resurrection, and victory over satan, sin and death.” Replied Sarah.
Owen spotted some-one walking into the canteen. She seemed to be looking for some-one. Owen knew her well – Bronwen Griffith, a nurse. She was also the fiancé of Ppal. Owen waved a hand for her to come and join them. Her blue uniform was immaculate, but she looked a little flushed. She greeted her fellow Welshman in Welsh,
“Sut dych chi?”. (how are you?) Bronwen grabbed a chair to sit next to Ppal, the 2 of them snuggling up to each other.
“We arrive tomorrow at nineteen hundred hours at the new colony!” Bronwen shared excitedly.
They were all looking forward to walking in the sun and fresh air since their 19 months journey to SF-10134-M, now renamed “Freyya” , a Nordic version of Aphrodite.
“So we will become ‘Freyyans’, or at least the first generation born there will be.” Mused Alessandro.
“Then, as it’s named after a goddess of love, let’s thank the TRUE source of love – God. God IS love.” Said Owen, and every-one joined hands and prayed. Afterwards Ppal ventured an idea.
“When we settle there we will need a spiritual place to gather at. Something like a church, and another reason you need to start thinking about it is this ; Bronwen and I are getting married A month today!”.
There was clapping and hooraying. Then when every-one had calmed down Owen spoke.
“Let’s commit to meet together in that place when we build it, and to reach out to the wider community. Let us have a banner above the door – Deus Providebit – because God has given us a new start, a new planet and more importantly – each other”.
THE END
