Nancy’s Comments on Dinner With a Perfect Stranger

May 25th, 2013

Kudos to David Gregory for creating a serious story with a gentle, credible tone that lifts up the love of Jesus and Gregory’s understanding of Christian truth. The character, Nick, is well developed and evolving as he grapples with the surreal aspects of the situation, and as gradually his doubts give way to belief. The story line replicates a common path toward faith.

I like this story for its creative imaging of Jesus among us. Too often, the historical Jesus is relegated to the pages of the Bible or kept in a shrine away from everyday life. Here we see Jesus inviting a common man to a restaurant and engaging in conversation over things that are important to his dinner guest. Gregory has Jesus speak with insight and knowledge, and great understanding of “Nick”, both his history and inner life.

Eric receives a priceless gift at the end of the dinner: a paper with the Biblical reference: Revelation 20:3. Pivotal, also to my book Revelation in the Cave, is this image of Jesus knocking.  All who open the door are invited into the spiritual life and relationship with Jesus.