Feeding of the Five

This month has been March Madness at youth group, in which we make a special effort to pump up attendance and bring canned goods to donate. Yesterday, we capped off the month by feeding the hungry at Hallyburton Park. The other adults had gotten the word out with flyers and invitations to various groups whose members might be in need of a good meal. We got hot dogs and fixings, sweet tea, and everything else one needs for a great cook-out.

Then we woke up on Sunday morning. It was cold. Overcast. Very much threatening rain, and the threat came true. We had said "rain or shine," and we had to stick to it. Luckily, the kids had music practice beforehand, so they were already a captive audience and rode the church bus to the park. But youth and counselors far outnumbered the guests; there were maybe eight of them? It was extremely cold. We had a shelter, but the air itself was damp. The food was delicious, and we had fun. But I'm sure I'm not the only one who was disappointed with the turnout. Not that I blame them.

As part of this food-focused month, I did a talk on the feeding of the 5,000/4,000 (there are two different instances with different numbers). Jesus took tiny amounts of food and made them into enough for the crowds. I talked about how this is the only miracle the average person can actively participate in. We can't heal, we can't turn water into wine, but we can feed the hungry. We can give at least a little of our plenty to those who have less.

The hard part is, the need is no less present and pressing for one person, or eight, than it is for five thousand. We didn't get a big shebang last night. It wasn't a glorious event in which hundreds, or even dozens, came and were fed. It was just another night at the park, just another cookout, just another meal. But even though not very many people came, they were still helped. They got a meal they might not otherwise have gotten, and some of them took home leftovers too. So a good deed doesn't have to be, actually shouldn't be, a roaring success of an event. It can be routine, nonchalant, even in some ways a disappointment. In thinking big, we sometimes forget to think small: each life touched is a success. Period. It's not a numbers game, and it never will be. It's about paying attention to the needs around you and doing your best to meet them. We are very blessed to have so many opportunities to do so.