FOSTER CARE 20 SEPTEMBER 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Have you ever heard the term “thin space”? It’s an ancient phrase, rich in spiritual meaning. A thin space is a moment, a place, an experience where the veil between heaven and earth seems especially fragile — where God’s presence feels near and tangible. You can’t always explain it. But when it happens, you know. Thin spaces are often found in moments of prayer or worship. Sometimes it’s during a church gathering, other times it’s when you’re alone in your car and clarity breaks through like a beam of sunlight. It’s as if the noise quiets, and God whispers something undeniable to your soul. But there’s one thin space we often overlook — one that exists right in the middle of our everyday lives. The table as a thin space In Celtic tradition, the table is considered a sacred thin space. And while that may sound poetic or symbolic, I believe it’s profoundly practical. Think about it: the table is one of the few places in our fast-paced culture where we regularly slow down, gather and share life. It’s not about the wood or the design — it’s about the people around it. It’s about the presence of God in our midst when we break bread, laugh, grieve, celebrate and connect. The table isn’t just where we eat. It’s where we commune — with one another and with Jesus. Biblical tables Scripture is full of meaningful meals and sacred tables. The Passover table in the Old Testament marked deliverance and remembrance. The table of the Last Supper introduced the New Covenant in Jesus’ blood. Jesus fed the hungry, taught over shared meals and welcomed outsiders to sit and dine with Him. One of the most powerful metaphors for the Kingdom of God is a banquet. Isaiah prophesied that God is preparing a feast for His people. And Revelation speaks of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb — a divine table where joy, healing and eternal communion await. God has always used the table as a place of transformation. A table of redemption For many 4KIDS Foster and Adoptive Families, the table is more than a place to eat — it’s a battleground for trust, connection and healing. The children who join these homes often come with wounds too deep for words. Sitting still, sharing a meal or even making eye contact can feel like a mountain to climb. And yet, slowly, as the days turn into weeks and the meals continue — spaghetti nights, cereal mornings, birthday cakes — the table becomes something sacred. A place where walls come down. Where laughter begins to return. Where a child learns that this seat is theirs and no one’s taking it away. We’ve heard countless stories of breakthrough happening right there at dinner in between bites, when a child finally shares a fear, cracks a joke or reaches for a hand. These moments are holy. Not because they’re grand, but because they are deeply human and quietly divine. This is the kind of thin space we believe in at 4KIDS. Not just in sanctuaries, but in kitchens and dining rooms. Around mismatched chairs and noisy meals. Because when love is consistent, and Jesus is present, even the most ordinary table becomes a place of redemption. Don’t miss the moment In our own homes, the table may feel more chaotic than holy. It might be cluttered with backpacks or half-finished homework. It might sit unused, or it might be missing someone you wish was still there. But even in the messiness, the invitation stands. God meets us in ordinary places. In fact, He seems to delight in showing up not in the spectacular, but in the small. A few minutes of laughter around dinner, a prayer before a meal, a deep conversation that interrupts the usual rush. “Where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there in the midst” (Matthew 18:20). And where He is — there is fullness of joy. A new way to see your table As we move through the fall and into the holiday season, the table will take center stage more often. May we see it differently this year, not just as a place to eat, but as a place to encounter. Even when the conversation is light or the room is noisy, or when the meal is takeout, or when the gathering feels small or the heart feels heavy. The table still holds potential to become a thin space. Let’s be intentional with who we invite to it. Let’s see Jesus as the unseen guest who is always present when we gather in His name. And let’s remember that sacred moments don’t have to be staged or scripted — they often begin with a simple seat at the table. Because the thin spaces in our lives aren’t far away — they’re already here. We just have to sit down and notice. Since September 2024, Andrew Holmes has been serving as the President of 4KIDS--a ministry that provides Hope, Homes, and Healing to kids and families in crisis. Learn more and catch the vision of a home for every child at 4KIDS.us. Thin Spaces - Andrew Holmes - 4KIDS President
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