Dear Cobham Park Church Family,
There once was a great chef. She’d worked at the same little restaurant for many years, and people would travel long distances for a taste of her cuisine. Her dedication and attention to detail made every dish a delectable masterpiece. For hours before and after meal times, the restaurant kitchen was busy and noisy. Steam hissed, waiters shouted, pans clanged, and knives rapped on cutting boards. In this commotion, the chef labored on, sleeping little and eating even less. The smiles of delighted diners and the critics’ glowing reviews appeared to justify her sacrifices. Eventually, this chef began losing weight. She looked quite pale and smiled much less than she used to. Her hands occasionally trembled, and she took longer to prepare orders. Everyone overlooked these troubling signs, however, as her culinary creations remained first-rate. For the chef, cooking had once been a joyous passion, but now every entrée felt like a tiresome chore. She increasingly noticed how other members of the kitchen staff took breaks that seemed much too long; they certainly didn’t share her dedication. She inwardly stewed in resentment toward the restaurant owner, who never offered so much as a “thank you” for all her work.
The day the chef didn’t show up for work, the restaurant couldn’t open. “This is certainly unlike her,” the waiters mumbled to one another. Later, everyone was shocked to hear that the chef had been found dead in her apartment—a victim of starvation.
I write this story for those of you who continually sacrifice to serve others in this church and community. For Jesus, you’ve worked countless hours. You’ve fed God’s children through your service, teaching, and prayers. You have endured constant annoyances and thankless chores. I know there’s still work to be done, but you still need to eat! If you teach others, you must allow yourself to be taught. If you serve others, you must allow Christ to serve you (John 13:8). If you give generously, you must be willing to receive the generosity of others. If you won’t take the time to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), you’ll lose your taste for His service. If you won’t let God restore your soul at His dinner table (Psalm 23:3,5), you’ll end up with nothing to offer others. Think about it. What could be more ironic than a chef who’s starving to death?
In His Love,
Pastor Keith
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