Dear Church Family and Friends,
One of the images the Gospel of Luke gives us for conveying the nature and character of God’s Kingdom is that of a banquet feast. In the egalitarian relationships and common sharing of this joyful meal, one catches a glimpse of God’s reign. In our church, we certainly get our own glance into the Kingdom through our famous potlucks. I can easily attest to enjoying many a heavenly feast surrounded by good company in Bradford Hall.
But what about the rest of the week? Where can we get a peek into the Kingdom when we are not at church on Sunday? While I am unable to give a precise location for where one can peer into the divine, I believe I have found a contemporary metaphor that may assist in the discovery of such places. I have found it amid the dirt and grime of Portland’s streets. Among the mundane of everyday life in an otherwise gray city, one can find bright splotches of color and life. These bright splotches are known as food carts.
On a couple of recent nighttime jaunts (while painting the town poke-a-dot pink), I have become increasingly intrigued by Portland’s food cart scene. For those who have not been following the trend, over the past several years Portland has become known as a food cart Mecca. On the streets of the Rose City, there are now more than 500 vendors selling tasty creations ranging from duck confit sandwiches to Korean barbecue tacos. One reporter claims that Portland’s food carts are now “the envy of the country” with “great ingredients, great personality, great prices.” An entire book has been devoted to the examining and detailing this urban phenomenon. It is called Cartopia: Portland’s Foodcart Revolution.
As the title of the book suggests, this revolution has created its own vocabulary with words like “cartivore,” “cartitecture,” and “cartepreneur.” Indeed, an entire food cart culture has developed that weaves together the creative expressions of art, music, and food. An ethic of sustainability and the use of local ingredients define many of the carts. Moreover, one of the authors of Cartopia describes carteprenuers as having not a “Do-It-Yourself” spirit, but a “Do-It-Together” spirit. Through collaboration, they are surviving and thriving in a difficult economy.
As we consciously turn ourselves toward God during this season of Lent, I encourage you to find your spiritual food cart. Find that place where you can gather with friends and family to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the richness of life. In that place, may you catch a glimpse of the kingdom and receive the spiritual nourishment you need.
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Brooks