Interactions

Today a lovely brunette woman saw me offering a sandwich to someone. She amde the usual comment, “that’s so nice of you.” I didn’t get into the philosophy of it that I wrote here before. She seemed to genuinely want to do something because she mentioned that she was worried about offering peanut butter.

I told her that I simply made what I had. Sometimes that’s PB & J. Today it is salami and cheese. Then I ask. Sometimes they take it, sometimes they don’t. They are free to refuse me if they want. And at that, we went our separate ways in the city. I’d like to think that she will think about it.

Interestingly, I also had a second question about the sandwiches today. I was getting them wrapped up for the return trip whe the undergrad student that sits at the desk saw me and asked if I was carrying around the donuts. I explained to her the whole deal: why I was doing it and how it partially defines  my humanity. She is such an enthusiastic young woman and repeatedly declared that I’m awesome. It’s cute and I know she means it. But I had to tell her that I’m not tryig to save the world. That thee sandwiches aren’t the answer.

But after I talked with her and the other woman this morning, I realized that this was a lot like the parable of the loaves and fish. The miracle is one part of the story. But the other part is that the disciples told Jesus that they didn’t have what it takes to feed the masses of people. But the boy showed up and just gave what he had.

The miracle is not my job. I just show up with what I have.