I want to tell everyone a story this morning, but I am going to need a little help with the props. This is a well-known European folktale that has been retold in a variety of ways over the generations. I want to share the story of Stone Soup with you.
One day a kind traveler came to a cold and lonely looking village. The traveler only carried a knapsack filled with kindling and a big empty pot.
The village seemed unfriendly. The streets were empty and every window and door was closed up tight and locked.
The traveler was tired, it had been a long walk. He was hungry, too! So, hopeful, he went to the first house he saw and knocked on the door. He was pretty sure he saw the curtains move a bit. He even heard someone moving about inside, but no one answered the door.
Not wanting to give up, the traveler walked to the next house, and then the next, and the next. Finally, a woman and three children came to the door.
“Hello!” said the traveler. “I am looking for a place to have a rest and a bite to eat. Would you be able to help me?”
“No,” said the woman, “we haven’t eaten in days. My own children are hungry. You should go on to the next village, maybe they can help you.”
The traveler smiled at the woman, saying “My goodness, it seems we are both needing some help. Not to worry, I will happily share my stone soup with you. All we need is water for my pot and a fire.”
So the children ran and gathered wood, and the woman brought over water to fill the pot. The traveler used his kindling and flint to start the fire.
Soon they had a cheery fire that heated the water up to a nice boil. The traveler pulled three smooth stones from his pocket and dropped them in – plop, plop, plop, into the pot.
The woman could not believe her eyes… “A soup from stones?” she asked.
“Oh yes, and it’s quite delicious the traveler said. Although, it would be a bit tastier with salt and some herbs.”
“Oh!” said the woman, “I may have some salt and some herbs in my kitchen.” She ran in and found salt, oregano, and thyme. The children added them to the pot, and as they did the door of her neighbour’s house opened. A man and his son came out…
“What are you doing?” the son asked
“We’re making stone soup!” exclaimed the traveler.
“A soup from stones?” asked the father.
“Yes,” said the traveler, “it’s quite delicious. Although it would be a bit tastier with a few vegetables.”
“Dad,” said the son, “I think we have some carrots and potatoes under the stairs!”
The man and his son added carrots and potatoes to the pot. The smell of the soup filled the area. A widow across the street opened her window and called down to her neighbours, “What are you doing down there?”
“We’re making stone soup!” they replied.
“A soup from stones?” asked the widow.
“Yes!” said the traveler, “it is quite delicious. Although it would be a bit tastier with a little meat.”
“You don’t say?” said the elderly woman, “well, I happen to have some.”
One by one the doors to the houses all around started to open up. And each time the people asked about what was going on, they went back into their houses and came out with something to add to the soup. When the pot was full, villagers offered bread, butter, and other goodies. One villager even offered his homemade apple cider!
The traveler exclaimed, “This will be a meal fit for royalty.”
People brought out tables and lined them up to make one big table, and others brought out bowls enough for everyone. Eventually, the soup was ready and all the villagers AND the traveler sat down together and enjoyed a delicious meal made from stones.
With their tummies full of food, and their hearts full of joy, they declared to one another, “Who would have imagined such a meal! The stones must be magic.”
The traveler answered the villagers wonderings, “oh no, there is no magic in the stones. The magic happened when each of us shared just a little with one another and together we made a feast.”
When the meal was over, and all of the dishes were washed and the tables were put away, the traveler gathered up some kindling, collected his pot and stones, and after a nights rest, put his knapsack on and continued on his journey. The villagers waved and shouted their thanks until the traveler was out of sight.
“What shall we eat today?” they asked one another. A child held up a stone and said, “I have an idea! Let’s make stone soup!”
I love the story of stone soup, I love the various different ways the story has been told over the generations and in the different cultural contexts. More than anything I love the way that the simple act of inviting people to add something to the soup creates not only a satisfying and tasty soup but brings a community together. Each and every person in the small little village contributes to the feast and each and every person is welcome at the table, including the strange new person who introduced the idea of stones as the base for soup.
Our scripture, if you look beyond the throwing out of the under-dressed guest and the threat of gnashing of teeth, has a similar message. When the original wedding guests all bail on the king, he throws open the invitation to all that his people come across – the good and the bad. We’ve looked at this story from the everyone is invited to the table and sometimes that means you need to sit next to someone you may not like point of view. And I remind you of that… we are all invited to the table, where there is room for us all.
But more than anything, one of the things that both stories have for us is an abundance focus. The stranger comes to a village where everyone is convinced that there isn’t anything good to share, that they don’t have enough even for themselves. This causes the village to withdraw and definitely isn’t welcoming to the stranger. And it’s not until each person brought out a little bit to add to the soup that there was more than enough for everyone to enjoy. And the King, well he knew he had an abundance of food that he certainly didn’t want to see go to waste, so why not invite in folk who would enjoy the feast laid out? He shares the abundance.
I know, I know, I kinda harp on this abundance versus scarcity thing a lot. But here’s the reality, when we work from a scarcity stand point, when we can’t see the strengths and talents that we’ve been blessed with by God, we lose our ability to hope, to see the good, to want to do… anything.
Friends, there is abundance surrounding us here at Westworth United. We have so much to offer and share with all of God’s people. And it is our job to invite others to share in this abundance because if we don’t talk about it, people won’t hear about it. And if they don’t hear about this church that is doing great things in the community then they won’t be able to join in.
And in order to invite others in, we have to be willing to talk to others about our faith – our testimony to why we are Disciples of Christ, why we spend our Sunday mornings together in community and worship, why we share our talents, skills and time in ministry in this place and community. We have to invite folk to join us in the experience of God active in this place, alive in each of God’s people sitting in these pews.
We’ve spent some time practicing the skill of talking about our faith, about what it is that draws us here, and why we continue to answer God’s call. I have absolutely loved the energy and engagement you all have given to this task. We are going to continue today and then there will be one more chance next week…
But today, here are the questions I want you ponder…
What do you bring to “the meal”?
Who do you think would benefit from being here?
If our church disappeared would anyone notice?
What about this place would you like to share with others?
I invite you to share your thoughts in groups of two or three or four… whatever works best for you. I’ll give you about five or six minutes and then bring you back.
Friends, for everyone born there is a place at the table. And we have enough to share, to feed, to support and to love all who gather with us. May this truth be a source of hope and strength as we do the work of ministry in this place and in the world. Amen.
