What the Bethel Table Head Discussed With Me

[TrueTomHarley]

What the table head discussed with me (or was it someone else who brought it up?) was that I shouldn’t have eaten all the strawberries just because the plate had started with the person on my left and gone clockwise around the table to me, who had final crack at them. “Sometimes people don’t take their 10th right away,” he said—they figure they’ll come back to it later.

 

How was I to know? I was visiting for the first time with my friend Johnny. He still tells the story. “Hey! Who took all the strawberries?” someone cried and I looked up—strawberries hanging from my mouth.

 

 

[McKay]

9 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Sometimes people don’t take their 10th right away,

Was this a joke?

 

Honestly, no one is a mind reader. Jehovah gave us words. If you want to have a strawberry later, speak up. This shouldn't have even been an issue.

 

TL;DR Snooze? You lose!

[TrueTomHarley]

5 hours ago, OtterWriter said:

Was this a joke?

Not a joke. Nor was it an issue. It happened and afterwards it seemed funny to recount. After all, there was some poor brother (hopefully just one) looking forward to the strawberries he had let pass by while he finished his main course. I took it in good humor at the time—it’s training. You don’t slide everything onto your plate just because it is there—even if it is strawberries.

 

Hmm. Would I say to my hosts if I had it to do again:   ?

 

5 hours ago, OtterWriter said:

Snooze? You lose!

It’s an interesting question.

Edited January 28, 2020 by TrueTomHarley

[sunshine]

We had a Bethelite come to stay a few years back and he said something along the lines that they keep an eye on the newbies in case they forget their table manners or something like that... so I can believe your story.  Think "Israelites and quails", it always helps when deciding how much to fill one's plate!

[Cheeks]

7 hours ago, OtterWriter said:

Was this a joke?

 

Honestly, no one is a mind reader. Jehovah gave us words. If you want to have a strawberry later, speak up. This shouldn't have even been an issue.

 

TL;DR Snooze? You lose!

LOL!  I agree.  Maybe because the brother was the table "head" he felt he owned the table...?  Someone should have gone and got a second bowl, put it down right in front of him and said: "...Here ya go, all just for you."

 

 

[Cool Cat]

I have only had lunch at bethel once and it was exactly as you recount. Military precision, very defined etiquette, and loads of quirky rules/guidelines. It is almost impossible for a newbie to talk, eat and keep the food distribution thing going. I think it must take months of practice. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't like it to be like that in paradise.

[Thesauron]

I have only had lunch at bethel once and it was exactly as you recount. Military precision, very defined etiquette, and loads of quirky rules/guidelines. It is almost impossible for a newbie to talk, eat and keep the food distribution thing going. I think it must take months of practice. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't like it to be like that in paradise.

It does. Bethel life these days require education. It is not for everyone, but it keeps things running smoothly.

[Joey]

I have a question about eating lunch at Warwick. Do you have to know someone there to be allowed to eat there?