Some time ago at a buffet lunch in a church hall - not quite a fine dining event - I recall a lively conversation between an unemployed man in early middle age and an older, wealthy industrialist. The younger man commented that unemployment was hard work. He complained that everyone imagined it was like being on holiday. But he worried constantly about money and providing for his family while applying for lots of jobs - over 200, he said. It was exhausting, more draining than when he had a job. For his part the older man acknowledged he wasn't anxious about paying his personal bills. But he did worry about the business decisions he made. It was a burden knowing that hundreds of families depended for their livelihood on his company's continued success. That was draining too. As a largely silent third party to their conversation, I could see the impact of their exchange of views. They truly met each other.Perhaps it's no surprise that the conversation between those two men, one unemployed and the other with a large business, took place at a community meal where there was an open table. Our communities may need many more common tables where some of the barriers created by wealth, class and power can be broken down. We don't need to do less eating together, but more.
不久之前在一个不怎么隆重的教堂餐会上，我听到了一段发生在一位失业中青年人和一位稍微年长些的富有实业家之间的生动对话。中青年人说，失业真是煎熬，很多人异想天开的觉得失业就是放大假，但他一直为钱和家里的生计焦灼不安，他应征了超过200份的工作，实在是让人精疲力竭，比工作还累。而那位实业家当然不必为付个人账单焦虑，但他的确要为他所下的每一个商业指令担心，成百上千的家庭生计要依靠他在商业上不断成功，这是个巨大的负担，让人不胜负荷。作为一名大部分时间保持沉默的第三方，我能感到他们思想的碰撞，他们算是见对了人。一名失业人员和一位大实业家的对话发生在一个社区流水席上，我不觉得有什么骇人听闻的。我们的社会需要更多这种跳出财富、等级和权力框框的餐桌，这种餐会只嫌少，不嫌多。
