Today’s scripture: Luke 9:10-17 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Julie Walsh):
There is a semi truck stuck beneath a bridge! As traffic continues to back up, multiple crews gather to find a resolution. Heavy machinery is brought to the scene, and workers continue to discuss a viable solution that will be the most cost efficient, timesaving approach. After hours of deliberation and numerous failed attempts, a small child passes by the scene and says, “Why don’t you just let the air out of the tires?” Within minutes, traffic is moving around the truck that is now resting on the side of the road, clear of the bridge, tires completely flat.
In reading the story of feeding the five thousand, I am drawn to what happens just before Jesus multiplies the bread and the fish, particularly in the role the disciples play. To me, the disciples clearly demonstrate good sense and take initiative to care for the needs of the people who have gathered. They have a clear inventory of what food they can provide, recognize the hour, and address the situation with plenty of time to find a logical resolution. They offer two reasonable solutions — for the people to return to the villages for food and lodging or to purchase more food so that the crowd can be fed.
But Jesus throws logic out the window and comes up with an unthinkable plan. Five loaves, two fish, and five thousand people. As some politicians might say, his math doesn’t add up. Yet, the crowd sits and eats while listening to Jesus’ teaching, and the disciples collect twelve baskets full of discarded food when they are finished.
When the magnitude of a situation seems like we have five thousand people to feed or our truck is stuck under a bridge, we may initially feel overwhelmed. But then we typically turn our game-faces on and tackle some common sense strategies and fully developed plans. Sometimes I think we need to tap into something different, though, and use the creativity we each have been gifted with to resolve the problems that confront us.
Maybe you have five thousand bills to pay and not enough dough to cover them all. Maybe your relationship is stuck and the biggest tow truck in the world can’t seem to move it in any direction. Though the common sense techniques may not be working for you, there is still hope. Take a ride on the crazy creative side, and allow yourself to use a little uncommon sense!
Thought for the day: God, help me to become a more active co-creator with You. Stir my creativity so that I may embrace the uncommon solutions today.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.