Soup for the Soul!
Before I moved to Durham to attend seminary, soup wasn’t something I associated with joy or community. It came from a can, was heated up only when I was sick and home from school, and was eaten alone. But Durham—and the people I’ve met here—changed that.
Through the Theology, Medicine, and Culture Fellowship at Duke Divinity, I was connected with Open Table Ministry as a volunteer and intern. Every Thursday at Duke, our fellowship gathers around bowls of homemade soup to reflect on the intersections of health, suffering, medicine, and faith. The soup—always warm, creative, and delicious—is made by our program coordinator and a few fellows. By the time I joined Open Table mid-semester, I had become accustomed to this new souped-up form of connection and appreciated it’s humble power.
So, you can imagine the surprise and smile on my face when I saw that soup was a staple at Open Table’s Free Store on Tuesday mornings! The very first time I volunteered at Free Store, I was standing by the shower truck when I heard someone shout, “THE SOUP IS HERE!” I turned to see Mr. Scott, proudly wearing a vintage “Open Table Ministry” T-shirt, rolling a cart with two large, sloshing stockpots. I watched as people gathered around, their faces lighting up with the comfort of that simple, steaming gift. The parking lot was filled with the aroma of soup and the holy murmuring of fellowship.
Mr. Scott, a man of few words and deep wisdom, is a long-standing member of Trinity United Methodist Church. From what I’ve seen over the last 6 months as a volunteer, he’s been faithfully preparing soup for the Open Table community for quite some time—so much so that folks have come to expect his kind, familiar presence most Tuesdays of the year. But what he offers is more than just a meal. His quiet hospitality, steady faithfulness, and generous spirit nourish more than the body—they feed the soul.
He is one of many who remind me that the table God prepares is wide enough for all. Since that cold October morning, I’ve tasted many of Mr. Scott’s soups—homey chicken noodle, vibrant vegetable blends, and more. Each bowl has been shared with friends I’ve come to know and care for. One Tuesday, I had the chance to help him cook. As we chopped vegetables and stirred the broth, we talked about our faith, our neighborhoods, and what it means to serve. That hour in the kitchen became a quiet moment of grace—a time to reflect on how God is working in our lives.
When I moved to Durham, I had no idea what kind of table God was preparing for me. And I couldn’t have imagined that a bowl of soup would be the main course! Through Open Table, I’ve found community, purpose, and the presence of God. To be explicitly cheesy: I’ve found soup for the soul.
Now, every Tuesday morning, I look forward to the soup and the souls gathered around the popup check-in tables at Free Store.
If I’ve learned one thing: soup tastes much better in community.
Written by: Aaron Shirley
OTM TMC Fellow Intern