Best Seat in the House
Next to the Kitchen Door
There are many places on the Manresa campus that might be considered the “Best Seat in the House”. But when retreatants gather in the dining room of Xavier Hall for meals, it’s not hard to argue that the guy sitting next to the kitchen door might have the best seat in the house. From his vantage point right next to the kitchen door, this retreatant has a clear view out the large window while waiting for the meal to begin, or between courses. With his back to all but a handful of the 100+ retreatants in the room, distractions are at a minimum and his time might be well spent in reflection upon the retreatmaster’s latest lecture, the scripture passage he has been reading, or in thanksgiving for this moment and the next. As he gazes to his left, there is a crucifix on the wall above the next table which calls him to prayer. A bit closer, a faded portrait of a vigorous Pope John Paul II recalls the saintly example that this man has placed before us over the years. As the kitchen door swings open, the guy sitting right there next to it is the first to see what the meal is. He is the first to see the broad smile upon the familiar server’s peaceful face as she wheels the double-decker cart into the room. He is among the first to be served, and it doesn’t hurt to be near the kitchen door if you need to request a refill on red beans or another vase of vino. Surely, this seat right next to the kitchen door has to be one of the “Best Seats in the House”!