Friday, August 29, 2003

By DAVID EPPS
Pastor

An era is ending this week in Peachtree City.

For over 20 years, I have been dining at least once a week at Shadows restaurant. Two decades ago, a minister asked me to join him and several other members of the clergy for breakfast. I took him up on the invitation and became a regular at the Wednesday morning clergy breakfast. Not long after that first breakfast, the meeting was moved from an establishment in Tyrone to Shadows. We've been meeting each and every Wednesday morning, with rare exception, since that time. This week, I read the notice that Shadows restaurant was closing.

During the past 20 years, much of my ministry has been conducted and fast friendships have been forged around the tables at Shadows. It's very difficult to get men to come into an office for counseling. Getting them to join another man for lunch, however, is another matter. Many are the meals that were shared along with moments of vulnerability and trust.

Not all of those moments had the desired results. I still remember the sick feeling in my gut when I walked away from a lunch at Shadows having failed to convince a young husband and father that he should not leave his wife and small daughter for another woman. But those times were rare. Generally, good advice was given and received and more than a few marriages and lives found new life and new hope over a breakfast or a lunch.

I met women for lunch and breakfast around the tables at Shadows, as well. We talked about their families, their futures, and spiritual matters. Sometimes, tears were shed and quickly wiped away before anyone noticed although, once in a while, a brokenhearted lady would ignore the other patrons and allow the hot tears to splash on her cheeks. The waitresses were always kind enough to pretend not to notice.

But, more often than not, the meetings at Shadows were simply meetings between friends. Somehow, friendships seem more precious and meaningful when coupled with the "breaking of bread" or with a cup of coffee. And, on occasion, I met with political and civic leaders there. I made alliances and had arguments with church leaders around those tables. Sometimes, I just went by myself to read the newspaper or a chapter of a book and catch a few moments of public solitude at one of the outside tables.

For me, a special time at Shadows was the Wednesday ministers' breakfast. The management always let us have free drinks, since we were there every week, and Wendy (or is it spelled "Windy?") was almost always our server. She knew us all by name and usually knew what we were each going to order. There were even times that the pastors joined together and gave her a Christmas gift.

As hundreds of breakfasts were shared, I learned to appreciate, respect, and hold in high esteem the other clergy of the community. On more than one occasion, they prayed with me, encouraged me, and gave me their counsel. I became a police chaplain after a meeting at Shadows. The members of the ministers' breakfast group came and went, as clergy transferred out or retired, but each left an impression and a mark. And, I still believe that, for the price, Shadows consistently offered the best breakfast in town.

The current owner of Shadows is opening a new establishment somewhere on Highway 74. I was told that Shadows has had money problems and that the new place has staffing problems. With the closing of Shadows and the absorption of the staff into the new place, both problems will be solved.I wish them well. Economics drives the nation and, sometimes, businesses close.

Still, I am saddened. I figure I've eaten about 1,000 meals, mostly breakfasts, over the two decades I've been wandering into Shadows to meet friends and discuss both the profound and trivial matters of life. Before I gave up soft drinks a little over a year ago, I consumed at least a pitcher of Diet Coke every week, most of which was served up by the always pleasant Wendy.

I ran into a lady at the hospital a few days ago who is a part of the weekly "Grits and Grace" ladies groups that meets (or met) each week at Shadows. "What are we going to do?" she asked. I don't know. I assume that we will all find another restaurant to take the place of Shadows.

But it won't be the same. No, it won't be the same at all. An old friend has up and left us and we didn't have enough time to even say good-bye.

[David Epps is rector of Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church, which meets at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Sundays on Ga. Highway 34 between Peachtree City and Newnan. He may be contacted at FatherDavidEpps@aol.com or at www.CTKCEC.org.]

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