Eyes to SeeSample

During the bombing raids of World War II, thousands of British children were orphaned. Some were rescued and placed in refugee camps receiving food and good care. But for many of these children, the fear of being homeless and hungry prevented them from sleep. Nothing reassured them. Finally, someone came upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread at night. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. The bread was a reminder throughout the night that they would have food the next day.

We all need to feel a sense of security— the problem is where we find that security. In a culture dominated by individualism, materialism, and consumerism, we clutch at our jobs, benefits, home, insurance, and retirement plan like the children with their bread. With every media message proclaiming that satisfaction is our right, we grab at our electronics, entertainment, cars, toys, and travel, searching for the good life.

The problem is that when our eyes are focused on the bread in our hands, we fail to see the needs of others. We choose our comfort over the reality around us. We avoid the article, change the channel and ignore the tags on our clothes. Like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan, we pass by on the other side of the road (Luke 10:32) rather than stopping to attend to the needs of others.

Daniel from Calgary, AB, chose to look up from what was in his own hands when a small church group asked him, “What makes a good life?”. He realized that most of his ambitions were for his own comfort, security, and entertainment. While many saw him as a model Christian, he felt that his life didn’t accurately reflect trust in Jesus, so he and his wife set out to change how they lived. They became convinced that Christians are called to simple living. The decisions coming out of this conviction weren’t easy, however.

Daniel recalled one day when he sensed God was asking him to sell his car: “A lot of my sense of achievement and pride rested in what I had, and I felt that people judged me on that basis. But God asked me, ‘Is my love not enough for you? Are my promises not sufficient? My hope inadequate? My Son not enough?’ Boy, that stung.” Daniel’s response was to see his money as a gift God had given to complete a mission rather than to make them merely comfortable. This decision changed everything.

Benedictine monks take a vow of poverty. They do so not because they believe material possessions are evil but because they believe living simply allows them to better listen to God. Have you ever felt that your stuff distracts you from God? We are bombarded with messages that tell us we need to satisfy our wants— or even that our wants are, in fact, needs.

The words of Jesus in Luke 9:23-25 are scary. The lie that has been whispered in our ear is that there isn’t enough; we aren’t safe unless our needs and wants are prioritized. But Jesus asks us to let go of all that. Let go, and trust that in God, there is abundance.

Will we clutch our bread or trust God to provide for us? God knows our needs. He also knows our shortcomings and how we fall into fear. He offers us His grace and patiently leads us into the truly good life in Him.

Reflect:

• Like the children who clutched their bread, what do you hold onto worrying about tomorrow?

Pray:

Lord, in many ways, I identify with the children who could only fall asleep when they held tightly to a piece of bread. Help me to examine what it is I clutch so tightly. I pray that You would work in me so that I might begin to trust Your story of abundance. Amen.