Stories Behind the Gathering Table
This blog is a place where story and table meet.
The Gathering Table was not created from a business plan alone, but from lived experience—seasons of gathering and seasons of letting go, moments of abundance and moments of limitation. The stories shared here come from real life: family, faith, work, hospitality, grief, joy, and the ongoing learning that happens when you try to make room for others while navigating change yourself.
Over time, these personal stories began to shape a deeper conviction—that presence matters more than perfection, that hospitality is about people more than presentation, and that meaningful connection often happens in the most ordinary, imperfect spaces. This blog exists to explore those convictions honestly.
Some posts are reflections on family and tradition. Others are rooted in faith, community, or the practical realities of building a place centered on welcome. Together, they tell the story of how The Gathering Table came to be—and what continues to guide it: authenticity, generosity, and the belief that shared space can become sacred ground.
Whether you are here because you love gatherings, are walking through a season of change, or are simply longing for a place that feels welcoming and real, you are invited to pull up a chair. There is room at the table.
The Tree of Life and The Gathering Table
I didn’t get my first tattoo until I was over 50 years old.
It wasn’t even something I had planned to do that day. But when the moment came, I knew exactly what I would choose — a Tree of Life.
For years it was simply a symbol connected to my faith. But something unexpected happened in 2019 that completely changed how I understood it… and ultimately shaped the vision behind The Gathering Table.
Today’s blog shares the story behind that moment, the meaning of the Tree of Life, and why creating spaces for people to gather has become so important to me.
This is the story behind the name of The Gathering Table.