The Spread (10/28/2025)

Last night we met for scripture study at the parish. We call it “Snack and Scripture” with the intention of having munchies for those who didn’t have a chance to eat before they came. Some people sign up to bring dishes/food to share. Others spontaneously show up with desserts or veggies and dip or sandwiches. It is amazing. Every week, I find myself standing and acknowledging to the LORD that I did notice how gracious and generous people can be and are.

I hope that I am generous. The LORD does call us to be that, to be beings who do something when they see a need. The LORD took pains to remind us that this applies to us even when it isn’t necessarily convenient and even when we wonder if the roles were reversed if we’d be treated the way we are being called to treat another. My favorite example is Jesus’ wonderful parable of the Good Samaritan. The Good Samaritan stopped to tend to the man who probably wouldn’t have spoken to him if they’d met on the road when those the unfortunate man usually associated with passed him by. But the Good Samaritan went beyond that. He took the injured man to an inn. He tended to him through the night. He paid for the victim’s hotel stay and any care he would need. And the Samaritan even promised to stop back and pay for any costs not covered by his earlier deposit. That is generous. That is the kind of generous I want to be for love of Christ and love of others.

But I know I am not there yet. However, as I see generosity and graciousness and kindness around me, I am filled with a desire to do better, to be better, to be more loving. And I’ve come to realize that the LORD is guiding me through the lives and the actions of others. And I am so grateful to the LORD for not giving up on me and to those souls whose lives inspire me and make me want to be a better person for Christ and for others.

I know our world has problems; I might even be one of them. But I also know that the LORD is kind and merciful, the LORD is persistent in chasing me until I catch Him. The LORD sends others into my life to model for me, to accompany me, to love me even though I’m not there yet. Christ’s way is full of people like that. Have you noticed?

Today, as I recalled the spread for last evening’s scripture study, I thanked the LORD for what has been and I asked the LORD to help me part of what will be – according to His will which will involve giving of myself for love of the LORD and love of others. And I smiled because He has a way of taking the little things to teach me big ideas and immeasurable truths and making me want to be a better person for love of Him and for His glory.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.