Beverly's Messy Plate

Better Than a How-to-Book

It was not uncommon for my parents to head to Beverly’s after church when we were young. A group of their friends would gather at an old location at the intersection of May and Northwest 16th Street with kids in tow. For what seemed like hours to us they talked and ate, ate and talked.

Today, the only Beverly’s in Oklahoma City, that I know of, is located across from Integris Baptist Hospital. Recently I took Dad there for breakfast before going to see Mom. Two of the waitstaff came over to get our drink orders - coffee and water.

After they returned, they took our orders:

Q: What’ll you have?
A: We will both have the Messy Plate

I don’t know if Beverly’s offered a Messy Plate for breakfast back in the day. But, we could have split the meal.

We were served by two people, not just one. “She’s in training,” said the more mature of the two. The younger woman followed closely and observed the manner and the pattern of her trainer. Following what she had observed, the young woman kept tabs on our table ready to ask what we might need.

More coffee?
Water?
Need anything else?
I will get your check.

The late Dallas Willard described discipleship as an apprenticeship to Jesus. Much like the young lady keeping an eye on the one assigned to train her. It is not unlike what Jesus said in John’s Gospel,

 Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father^[a] does, the Son does likewise. The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. (John 5:19-20)

Most of us forget that there were no manuals to read, only lives to watch. No Christian Publishers. No Christian Bookstores. Naturally, it could get messy since the lives we watch come with a less-than-perfect example. But, that does not reduce the need for both those who will live faithfully and those looking for the faithful.

By God’s Spirit, we will keep our eyes on Jesus - the Author and Completer of our Faith.