Soul food

I have a confession to make. I heard that confession is good for the soul. So here goes:
I don't spend enough time on others, especially not in light of what Jesus makes so crystal clear. It is so simple, blissfully simple, that we as his followers are to spend our short time in this life investing in the eternal and caring for others. “Jesus said to feed the poor and to heal the sick. I have never done very much about that. Jesus said to love those who persecute me. I tend to lash out, especially if I feel threatened, you know, if my ego gets threatened. Jesus did not mix His spirituality with politics. I grew up doing that. It got in the way of the central message of Christ. I know that was wrong, and I know that a lot of people will not listen to the words of Christ because people like me, who know Him, carry our own agendas into the conversation rather than just relaying the message Christ wanted to get across… I am sorry for all of that” from Blue Like Jazz, by Donald Miller
Really, I wish I did better at all the beautiful things Jesus asked us, and commands us, to do. But I do try... I think my favorite thing to do is feed people. So it was pretty nice to get to do that in a couple of different ways. First, on Sunday we headed off to Overtown to give food out after the college service. It was like 9 at night. There was something going on over by Bayside and Bayfront Park. We didn't take into account that Sunday night would be so happening (since it was Memorial Day weekend). But it worked out. We gave out bags that had sandwiches and chips and water. Some people were sitting by walls, others were hanging out in groups, but most were just sleeping or pretending to sleep. I wonder what it takes to get to that point, you know? How people can be so down and out and end up sleeping on the streets with no one to help them. I hated leaving there, and going to my comfortable home in my safe car and clean clothes. This is what Jesus was challenging, and what he wanted us to give a second thought to. Whenever I see homeless on the street, asking for money, I'm torn. Do I give them money? Does that add to the problem? Do I take them somewhere for lunch? Is that safe? Jesus says we should throw parties and invite the homeless. But I hardly think this would be approved in a home that is not mine. And when I one day have a home, God willing, will I throw a party and invite the sick, poor and homeless? I hope so, though I can't see how that will work. I shall have to marry a burly man, who really likes hungry people.

The other way I got to feed people was by having them over. They weren't poor or homeless, but they did like it, I think. Whatever, I loved it! Since there was no work on Monday, Sunday night was the perfect night for a sleep over. It was great to have some girls over, and I loved cooking for them (Thai chicken meatballs, baked brie, etc.) and playing Taboo, and just laughing... The next morning more people joined us for breakfast. It was awesome. We made blueberry pancakes, french toast, waffles, ham & cheddar eggs, juice and cuban coffee. Yum. I spent the whole time in the kitchen- both sunday night and monday morning, and I wouldn't have rather been anywhere else in the world. It was great to spend time talking and eating and dancing (kinda) with good friends.

Maybe because I love food so much, I don’t care for this saying- Don’t live to eat, eat to live. I think really it shouldnt be either one. It's a little excessive when people live to eat, but I really feel bad for people who eat to live. Why would anyone choose to do this? God has given us such a variety of flavors, so many ways to prepare food, and such good ingredients. Seriously, who doesn't enjoy a good pad thai, or weekend waffles, or grandma's secret recipe? These are the things that just make life nicer. And Jesus knew it too. I think he liked food, and I think he liked the homeless. And I think that's why he wanted to make sure that we, his followers, would feed them. That's soul food right there.