Savoring Snacks

On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish.” 

Luke 9:10-13

After Jesus’ twelve closest disciples had returned from a major mission trip, eager to tell Jesus all they had done, Jesus took them to a quiet place. But when the crowds that sought Jesus found them, Jesus welcomed and taught them. Can’t you imagine that the apostles were thinking, “What about us?”

As day faded, the crowd was hungry, and Jesus told his tired missionaries to give them something to eat. The disciples had almost nothing to give. Jesus took the few scraps available and made them into much more than needed. The disciples distributed the bounty. But what about them? I like to think that they ate as well, at least from the leftovers.

I am on my way home from my yearly silent retreat – a feast of scripture, quiet worship, guided meditations, reflection, prayer and other spiritual nourishment. Last night I pondered “snacks.” How will I find strength and direction back home, when one demand, real or imagined, follows another? I jotted down words I want to remember and ways to “check in” with God and myself – not at length but briefly and regularly. I’ve put this list where I can get to it on computer, tablet or phone. What remains is to schedule “snack time” faithfully.

For the disciples, the taste of the loaves and fish surely faded, but they must have remembered for the rest of their lives their tiredness, the crowd and how Jesus provided more than enough. That spiritual “snack” of memory must have brought back a hint of the food’s taste and given them strength to go forward. What memories of God’s grace, what words of Scripture can you keep as snacks to sustain you?

God’s peace,

Katie