By Amanda Berger
Did you know that the Turquoise Table is a thing? I didn’t until I read “The Turquoise Table” by Kristin Schell last winter, and with the snow piled outside, I began to plot how I was going to convince my husband that our front yard was deeply in need of its own turquoise table.
The Turquoise Table is a symbol of hospitality and of a desire for connection between neighbors. It is a place to gather and spend intentional time getting to know those around you. What started with a turquoise picnic table in a suburban Texas front yard, has become a movement with thousands of tables throughout the United States.
In her book, Schell recounts tale after tale of how moving her family’s outdoor table to the front yard has inspired deeper community connections. It has also been a way for her to share her faith in her neighborhood. From meeting for coffee to impromptu conversations with neighbors as they walk their dogs or exercise, seemingly simple gestures (front yard gathering) have changed her neighborhood. It has inspired others to become front yard people as well.
Originally, I had hoped to extend this same hospitality through a turquoise table in my own front yard and at church. The staff was excited to have a place to eat lunch outdoors during the summer months, with the hope that some of our neighbors and our members would also take advantage of this space to share stories, to share coffee or to just simply share the sunshine together. While the global pandemic has made it impossible for us to gather around the table as I had planned, we decided to put the table out anyway, as a symbol of hope that we will gather in the future.
Maybe this summer, our neighborhood gatherings happen in different ways. But it is certainly easier to connect with each other from the front yard or driveway, even if that means yelling across the street or wearing masks. Maybe you can move your own patio furniture out front, drape your table with a turquoise tablecloth and live as #frontyardpeople for the time being. Perhaps it feels silly, but I do believe it can go a long way in to decreasing our sense of isolation and help to feel like a community, despite the uncertainty of this time.
Even if it is only you at your turquoise table, may it serve as a reminder that you are not alone. Bring a book and read or spend a few moments in prayer knowing that God is present at the table with you. And once it is all over, may the tables stay in the front yard, staying visible, and serving as a place for renewal and reconnection.