Trapped on the Toilet Table? God Has Turned the Tables for You!Sample

The Toilet Table

The ‘toilet table’ comes from a popular British sitcom about the perils of parenting. In the programme, the ‘toilet table’ is the table upon which the unpopular parents sit. It’s a small table located in the back corner of the coffee shop - situated by the toilet, so it comes with regularly wafted toilet fumes. It’s where the misfits sit - it's the place for the parents who didn’t qualify to sit at the popular table.

The ‘elite’ parents sit at the nice spacious table near the front window, the till, and the cake counter. The elite table parents are attractive, well dressed, drive nice cars, are wealthy and popular - or have been selected by the table leader due to being of some use to them - how lovely!

The toilet table crew are more on the disheveled side and are just scraping by, juggling jobs and family life plus dealing with difficult relationships - alongside the bad smells from the loo ruining their lattes! Cappuccino thanks!

Interestingly though, the elite table is not all as it first seems. The table leader is masking a marriage that’s falling apart. She’s desperate to make it big on Instagram, to be famous and ‘successful’ by the world's standards. She conceals her insecurities with judgemental, condescending, and snotty behaviour. She sniggers at the toilet table and enjoys making others feel small so she can feel powerful, important, and in control. She loves making a 'mocha'ry' (!) of the toilet table gang!

The toilet table, though much less comfortable and glamorous, is a lot more authentic. On the toilet table, they discuss the reality of life and parenting. They share their worries, challenges, and disappointments in life. It’s a more inclusive table and a much more real one. It’s a safe (albeit smelly!) space, with no pretense.

I think God would overturn both the toilet table and the elite table for different reasons - neither reflects his Kingdom’s type of table.

Whichever table you currently find yourself seated at in life, I want to focus for the next few days on the ways God can and already has ‘turned the tables’ for us. We need to choose to get our feet firmly planted under his perfectly placed table.

As our scripture for today from the book of Romans states, God does not show favouritism. There is no ‘elite’ table in his kingdom. We are all equal, and there’s one long table open to all. Get ready to pull up a chair over the coming week as we look at some table tales and some table fails!