October 17, 2014: Perhaps Tupperware is the Answer

Reading:  Hebrews 13:8  (Click to read text)

Reflection:  The other week, I was driving to a church to drop off an empty Tupperware container that was once filled with Whoopie Pies for a bake sale in which I was involved.  As I was driving to my destination, I wondered to myself why this individual gave us the sweet treats in a container that we had to return to her.  There are so many disposable containers that she could of used so that we didn’t have to return anything to her. 

And then, I thought about her age.  This senior citizen probably grew up sharing food in a Tupperware container.  And then it hit me.  As we talk today about the problems in the church, perhaps Tupperware is the answer.  You see, in the age when everyone used Tupperware to transport food to share, the receiver would wash the dish and then return it to the giver, often with some new homemade food.  Giving of the Tupperware showed trust.  The giver gave knowing that the receiver would return it.  This also sparked a sense of community because the giver and receiver would ultimately meet up again when the container was returned.


Trust and community are two things that should be important in the life of the church.  Building trust and community between disciples of Christ are one way for people to feel truly connected.  As my mind continued to think about these things, it dawned on me that as we strive to work on today’s problems in our churches, one thing remains constant:  Christ.  Jesus is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.  So perhaps Tupperware isn’t the answer to the church’s problems today.  But it sure would be interesting to start using more of it and see what happens!  --Chad Hershberger, Camp Mount Luther Director