On Sunday, we talked about food deserts and their effect – real ones in our communities, and spiritual ones. We talked about being fed. God’s love and grace are always available to us, but sometimes we neglect even the simplest spiritual practices that bring them close. We can forget God’s availability to us in the beauty of nature, the companionship of friends and animals, the wind, the sea, and in sheer silence. Attending to our spiritual lives is a discipline, and some days that feels like work. So it’s easy to fill up with entertainment and pursuits which smother our souls – and give up on the hard work of nourishment. What food do we offer to others as individuals and as a church? For the 21st c. church there is a hard reality that Christianity has a reputation for serving some pretty ghastly food – guilt, fear, and condemnation. And people rightfully ask, “Why would I spend myself for that which means nothing to me?” – my money for that which is not bread to my soul
Community, hope and companionship on life’s journey are the most grace-filled things we can offer. And in spite of our differences, our different tastes, histories, questions, needs – there is a common meal served here. It is a meal of love, of staple foods, bread and fruit juice, but more importantly, a meal of love and inclusion. God is with us in our personal deserts, understands our thirsts and our hungers and how unbelievably difficult it is to bear fruit when we are just trying to survive. We feed everyone at our table and at the table of welcome in our hearts…the table that Jesus taught us to set – because everyone needs to be fed.
Peace,
Pastor Carol