You Eat It!

“They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights” (Psalm 36:8).

Have you ever experienced weight gain during vacation? Well, I have! If there is food available, I eat it! The experts say it’s not real weight gain. There is very little actual fat gain and it is mostly temporary water retention and bloating. That makes me feel a little better because I truly enjoy eating on vacation.

You wouldn’t think, but the same has been true whenever I have been on short-term mission trips. One would figure a mission trip would be a great time to lose weight because of a lack of food. However, in my experience I have always come back to the States heavier. The food was always abundant and relatively good. Therefore, I eat it.

In recent months I have found the abundance of food to be consistent, even in Tanzania. At times I catch myself asking, “What do I do with all this food?” Every day there are multiple opportunities to eat. Besides the normal times of eating there are also multiple break times in which one can take the opportunity to eat. When the time comes, you’ve guessed it. I eat it!   

One such time of the day is around 10am. It’s what I call "Karibu Chai" because that is what I hear when someone is offering me food around 10am. They say, “Karibu Chai!” It translates from Swahili as "welcome to tea," representing a tradition of hospitality across East Africa. Offering tea (and food) is a primary way to welcome guests in East Africa. Hosts often present tea as a warm statement of togetherness. Sharing a cup and food often invites conversation, storytelling, community connection and of course food. So, what do you do with all this food? You eat it!

There is much in life that revolves around food and there is much that I love about food.  However, there is a lot that can go wrong when it comes to food. Sin has affected our lives even when it comes to food.

• The Planning:  What time do we eat? How long will it take? How many grocery stores do I have to go to before I get what I want?  No delivery today?  Am I still dieting? What time does the restaurant close? How much is meat!?! Do we get paid this week? Is there enough?

• The Preferences: Allergies? What’s available? Who’s cooking? What do the kids want? Big Mac and Fries or is it goat again?  What’s Ugali?  Mexican again!?!

• Jesus: How is He going to be a part of the table conversation? Did we forget Jesus?

While it is easy to get lost in all the issues that food brings, do not forget that the Lord has already been at work. In the Creed we confess that God is Almighty and He is Creator of all things. This means that He “provides me with all that I need to support this body and life.”

In Tanzania it is easy to become overwhelmed over the little things like food. There’s a lot that goes into feeding us and at times that can be overwhelming. The same is certainly true for you in your day to day dealings with life. And yet, the Lord has already begun His good work for you.  Before you began to plan your week, the Lord knew how He would provide for you.  This is in regards to your minor day to day activities and your eternal salvation. 

There is a picture of this in John 21. After the resurrection, our gracious Lord sits beside a charcoal fire and He cooks for His disciples. They don’t know it until they know it.  They do not yet know that He is taking care of them while they are failing at life on the lake of Tiberias. They do not yet know the Lord’s great care when He called out to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They weren’t even for sure until they came to the shore and saw the charcoal fire with fish on it and hearing Him say, “Come and have breakfast” (“Karibu Chai!”).

Christ our Lord, has the gifts prepared and they are all that you need to support your body and life. You may have everything planned out, but He has beat you to the beach. He has now prepared a feast of abundance so that you will be satisfied.

David cries out in Psalm 34 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” Therefore, feast upon the gifts that Christ has won for you at the Cross. At His table receive His Word and Sacrament. Be strengthened and be forgiven. And if you ever catch yourself asking, “What do I do with all this food?” The answer is, “You eat it!”

God of all grace, govern our hearts that we may never forget Your blessings but steadfastly praise You for all Your goodness in this life until, with all Your saints, we praise You eternally in Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.