An Impossible, Incredible Dinner

Last week in conversation class, I gave my students the task of working with a partner to choose eight people to invite to a banquet that they (the students) would host. These eight people could include anyone dead or alive, excluding members of their families. They had to tell me why they selected these particular eight people, what kind of food they would serve to their guests and what the location of the meal would be.


Most of the students seemed to enjoy imagining this kind of opportunity and put some real thought into who they would invite. I imagine it has something to do with hospitality being an almost-universal value, regardless of culture or background. So, my dear international students--representing Korea, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Taiwan, China and Turkey--chose the following people with just a tiny bit of overlap:


The NBA Dream Team (a.k.a Michael Jordan, Derek Bird, etc.)
Michael Jackson
President Barack Obama (USA)
Oprah
President Nicolas Sarkozy (France)
Beyoncé
Li'l Wayne
Neil Armstrong
Jesus Christ
Muammar Qadhafi
President Lee Myung-bak (Korea)
Famous physicists (I can't remember their names right now)
best friends
President Abdallah ibn Khalifah Al Thani (Qatar)
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (Turkey)
Martin Luther King, Jr. (who was originally listed as Malcolm X until I intervened)
me


I found the lists of invitees interesting, to say the least. I was surprised that the Prophet Mohammed didn't make the list (most likely there is a cultural reason to explain why he didn't and I'm just not aware of that reason). I was surprised that Oprah did make the list (in two cases: Angola/Saudi). The reasons they gave were fascinating, but they can generally be categorized into wanting to ask 'Why' a person did something or 'How' they did something or just to be in the presence of 'greatness.'


Then I got to thinking: how would I answer this question? I give my students these assignments and then shy away from doing the work myself. So, to exercise some part of my brain (whatever part it may be), I've written up a (shorter) list of invitees and why I would invite them. Disclaimer: This list could change depending on the day. :)


1. Victor Hugo: His writing has transformed not just a few people but thousands over the years. The brilliance of his style, vocabulary, ability to communicate the deepest truths of reality through storytelling are unmatched. I dream of reading Les Miserables in the original French one day.


2. Queen Elizabeth I: A woman of power, skill, bravery, intelligence and pride who lived during a time when women weren't supposed to be any of those things: I think yes.


3. Enkhsaikhen: I've actually met this man before and he changed my life forever. I have so many more questions for him now. What happened that this staunch, intellectual atheist began to desperately follow the Way of Christ? What kind of opposition did he face? How good was his translation of the Bible? If he could go back to Mongolia now, what would he do there?


4. Deborah: Mostly, I want her to tell me what it's like being a recognized and valuable prophetess. What does it look like for a woman to pursue a calling, even when that calling is 'different'? What did it take for her to be able to sing through her days?


5. C.S. Lewis: The brilliance and approachability of this man's writing is admired by people inside and outside the Church and I firmly believe that this kind of mutual respect should happen more often. I want to ask him about his writing process, about The Inklings, about Oxford and about his wife.


6. Henri Nouwen: I want to see the sacrifice and love for humans written on his face. I want to hear the voice that spoke communion to hundreds of special needs people. I want to experience his words in real life.




Who would you invite?