Note: On Tuesdays and some Sundays, you can find me at Your Daily Tripod, owned by my friend TonyD. A longer version of the post below appears there.
… so the people complained against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the wilderness, where there is no food or water? We are disgusted with this wretched food!” (Numbers 21:5, NABRE)
Let’s be honest. The food can seem a bit wretched in the 
moment.
Sure, you know that weekly or monthly turn at the food pantry is important. But with it comes getting up at 6 a.m. and losing an entire Saturday morning that you could really use for chores, brunch with friends, or sleeping in.
Sure, you agreed a long time ago to help at that charitable dinner on Friday night, and you believe deeply in the cause. But none of your dress clothes fit right and there’s no time to shop for something to wear and after all, you helped out with the prep work so what’s the difference.
Sure, you love your spouse and your children and your friends and your neighbors, and having them in your life is the very definition of joy. But listening to their hurts and problems and stories has worn you to a nub, and you wish you could just tell them to be quiet for an evening or go talk to someone else or share your reaction that they are at the root cause of all the ills they perceive.
But you do these things because as a Christian, you’ve promised the Lord to honor Him and love others as yourself, and something holy happens.
Your feet were tired after the food pantry service, but you kept seeing the shy smile the elderly woman gave you after you helped her pick out her items. And when you got home, someone else had run the dishwasher and started the laundry.
You struggled into the best-fitting of your ill-fitting dress clothes and went to the charitable dinner, and were inspired by the keynote speaker’s remarks. And while you were directing people to their tables, you ran into a friend you hadn’t seen in years. She remarked on how good you looked.
You held your tongue as your spouse told the same old work story for the umpteenth time, and then he said, “Anyway, nothing ever changes there. Thanks for listening,” and then asked about your day. Or after helping to end yet another dispute between your eight- and ten-year-old kids without them or you coming to blows, you got spontaneous hugs from them both.
Yes, the food can seem wretched. But when we eat it, confident we are doing His work, it has a way of turning into the tastiest meal we’ve ever had.
