Playing Nice
Have you ever felt you were doing the right thing only to learn you hadn't put enough into it, as though you had only scratched the surface of what you could do?
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.' - Luke 9:12
In today's Gospel reading from Luke, the disciples return home from traveling around the countryside healing the sick and spreading the word of the kingdom of God.
They are feeling good, assured in the knowledge that they have done a great job.
While they try to spend time with Jesus alone, a crowd gathers in this remote space. Jesus and his followers spend the day healing and talking with them. But as evening draws near, they begin to worry about them and show compassion.
Send them away so they can find food, they tell him.
Their hearts are in the right place. Anyone would say the same. It's getting late. Let them go so they can make it home safely.
But Jesus tells them to share what they have. Feed them, he says.
How often do we take the easy way out, believing we have done enough? What is truly expected of us?
Luke is giving us a glimpse at the nature of God's kingdom. It is a place where those who are with the program go all in. They share everything, expect nothing and in the process gain more than anyone could have imagined.
Some preachers of prosperity through Christ want us to believe it is a matter of taking great risks to gain great rewards. But it isn't about us at all. It is about the others, those for whom we have come.
The idea that all of us, al the children of God are here for a purpose is not new. We all have a desire to understand our purpose in life. But what if it is that simple, that we are here because there are others here who may need us as much as we need them?
When we send our children out into the world, we tell them to play nice. Enjoy yourselves, we say, make friends, be happy, and have fun. Don't be bossy, cruel, hurtful/ Don't fight.
Somewhere along the way, we forget that. Look around us. Everywhere we see people failing at playing nice.
If I understand the lesson in today's reading, playing nice is only the beginning. Too bad we can't seem to get there.
More to come...
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