I was hungry…

God’s Gift of Food

Genesis 1:26-31 

God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth; and every tree with seed in its fruit, you shall have them for food.”  v. 29 

       My daughter works for the local school district teaching elementary children about plants and helping them work in school gardens.  Often the students are surprised to discover that the food they eat grows in the ground.  They often only know that it comes off the shelf.  They don’t know the everyday miracle of seed, soil, sun and rain that produces the carrot, the apple, the lettuce, or the beans that they eat.  As adults also see  plants poke through the ground and grow without any help from us.  For us, too, the growth of vegetation seems one of God’s miracles. 

       In the creation story in Genesis 1, we find God creating human life and then desiring to preserve, protect and provide for that life.  The Genesis writer pictures Adam and Eve in a garden of abundance, of plenty.   This is God’s intention to provide an abundance for those whom God has lovingly created.  

      Earth is under duress with climate change that produces drought in once productive areas, but also produces too much moisture in others.  This disruption is a real concern.  Despite those changing conditions, the truth is that in our world there is still an abundance of food.  The earth produces enough food so that no one should go hungry.  Our refrigerators and cupboards are full, and it is said that we throw away 40% of what we grow in this great country. 

       I would guess that fewer people pray before meals than once did.  Of course, the food tastes the same whether we ask God’s blessing or note.  When we do repeat a table prayer, however, we find ourselves remembering where our food comes from and that it ultimately comes to us from the maker of heaven and earth. 

PRAY:  God of all creation, you water the earth and provide the sun to shine, and yet droughts make it impossible for many to provide food for themselves.  May we join in providing food for the hungry across the world.  Amen.

FAST:  From eating bananas grown by people without enough to eat.

ACT:  Set aside a jar or can of peanut butter for a local food pantry 

OR  set aside $1 to give to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.