Reflections of A Pilgrim On His Journey of Spirituality and Fatih

I have recently started going to the Panera Bread Store to enjoy a bowl of soup and some of their wonderful Artisan bread. When you walk in the door you are immediately hit with the smell of fresh baked bread. As I sit there eating I realize people just don’t come here to buy bread they come for the experience. As you approach the counter you see all kinds of breads and pastries as well as a list of sandwiches and soups. People are sitting with their laptop computers surfing the net with free wi-fi, reading the paper, or just talking with a friend. No one seems to be in any hurry to leave.

On Panera’s website they describe themselves this way: We are a symbol of warmth and welcome. We are a simple pleasure, honest and genuine. We are a life story told over dinner. We are a long lunch with an old friend. We are a weekday morning ritual. We are the kindest gesture of neighbors. We are home. We are family. We are friends.

Now I know that the number one purpose of the church is to worship God. We gather every Sunday to give praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father. But shouldn’t this description of a bread store also be that of a local church. “A symbol of warmth and welcome/ simple pleasure, honest and genuine/ a life story told over dinner (Holy Communion)/ a long lunch with an old friend (Carry-In)/ a weekday morning ritual (prayer, Bible Study)/ the kindest gesture of neighbors (mission & outreach)/ we are home/ we are family/ we are friends.“ Grace & Peace,  Revj