Mysterious Givers

One of the things our church does this time of year is participate in a program called Operation Christmas child that is sponsored by Samaritans Purse.     Members of our congregation, like many other churches and groups, pack a shoebox filled with various gifts for children in faraway places.   Why I am supportive of the program, I must confess that I have left the preparation of shoeboxes to my wife, Ann, with some assistance from our grown children.   Collection week for Operation Christmas child was held just a few weeks ago and I was astonished at the response in our congregation.   Why, there were more packed shoeboxes present that Sunday than there were people filling our pews.

One of the options that Operation Christmas Child has offered in recent years is that you can pay a small fee to track your shoebox to see in what country it arrived.    My wife, Ann, has paid the small fee a few times and we are excited to get the news about where the shoebox arrived.   When we got the news, we look at a globe seeking to know a little more about the place.    Though we have been fortunate to know something about the place where our family shoeboxes arrived, we know nothing about the children receiving those shoeboxes.    We know nothing about their names, their families, or their community.    All we know is that we gave, and they received.

There is a mystery in life so often about the origin of what we give and what we receive.    You probably do not know who grew, picked, and shipped the banana you ate today if it was bought in a grocery store.    If your generosity led you to put monies in a Salvation Army kettle during these days, your probably will not know the name of the person that will eat a meal or receive a basic need because of your generosity. 

  

In John 6, we hear the story of the feeding of the five thousand by Jesus.   This story is the only miracle of Jesus that we find in all four gospels.   While we know that Jesus feed thousands not including the women and children, we know not the name of the boy who gave the few fish and loaves of bread he had.    His name is remembered in the kingdom of heaven, but it is not known by us.     Every day, each of us are the beneficiaries of basic needs in life provided for us by people whose names we know not.     Though we know not their names, let us give thanks to the God who is the giver of all good gifts.   Have a joy-filled week. -- Pastor Randy Wall

  

Prayer:    O God, we give you thanks for the opportunity to give and the many, many gifts we receive.  Thank you for the opportunity give and the bounty we receive; through Christ our Lord.   Amen.