Doughnuts

I don’t know of any other profession in the world so easily identified with fried dough. I have done my part to build on this truth by giving my Dad the Father’s Day gift of a framed photo of me in uniform; standing in a doughnut shop; enjoying a maple bar. You may not know this, but a powdered sugar doughnut is a very important piece of safety equipment. You can use this pastry to determine the minimum safe distance from an incident by holding it up at arm’s length and looking through the hole in the middle. If you can see the threat area though the hole, you are at the minimum safe distance. If you have powdered sugar on the front of your uniform, you are downwind and should immediately change your location! If Jesus called us to break bread together, cops are called to break doughnuts. It is a great way to create opportunities to connect with people.

The Bible is full of stories talking about gathering together to break bread and fellowship. The Passover Feast in Exodus 12 called the people of Israel to eat lamb or goat roasted over fire with bitter herbs and bread without yeast. The Feast continues to this day as a remembrance of when God delivered Israel out of Egypt. It was on the occasion of the Passover that Jesus ate the Last Supper with his disciples before going to the cross. It was here that he shared the first communion with his followers. Mark 14:22-26 “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take it; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,’ he said to them. ‘Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.”
 

Taking time during the workday to break bread with others is a great opportunity to build relationships outside of the office. It gives you a chance to recharge your mind and focus on things not of work; things much bigger than 8 to 5. The Fortune Magazine article Forget Wall Street. Let’s occupy lunch! cites a study that found only 20% of workers take a lunch break. Most people “work through” the lunch hour leaving their work station to run to the nearest deli or fast food store to get something to wolf down with one hand while responding to e-mails with the other. The article got me thinking about the true value of working that extra hour. Does skipping lunch really make you more efficient or more effective?

The Apostle Paul was a tent maker. (Act 18:3) For him, work was a means to ministry. Like Paul, we are called to the same purpose. We are a light in the dark world (Ephesians 5: 8-10) and what good is the light if it's closed up in cubicle, an office or a police car? My challenge to you this Christmas season is to ask someone to lunch every week until the end of the year. Take time to check in with the people you work with. The table is set and the invitation is given. (Luke 15: 14-23) Who will join with you at the table? You will only know if you ask. If you ask, there will be an answer. (Matthew 7:7) God may call you to pray with a co-worker; invite them to Christmas dinner or lead them to accept the death, resurrection and forgiveness of Christ. All this from sharing a doughnut