Anna Broadway was twenty-one years old and thought the day before her would be a dream come true. She’d read about Harrods in London for years and the time had come for her to see it for her self. As she sat for high tea, a sinking feeling settled into her stomach. Something—someone—was missing.

Experiencing such a special moment alone became a point of grief for Broadway. “With each new delight,” she wrote in a recent CT article. “I felt more keenly the lack of someone to share my enjoyment with.”

Broadway isn’t the only one who has experienced the acute loneliness of an isolated meal. As increased numbers of people live alone, and as families are strained by busy schedules, solo meals have become common. Sometimes, they are a nice reprieve. But often, such meals lack the joy and hospitality that point us to God’s intention for our communal lives.

As we go about our days, may we look for opportunities to share a table—breaking bread and creating conversation in both simple and profound ways.