Feeding People

About three years ago, I worked as a nanny. That meant 9-10 hours a day taking care of 4 kids...which meant 2-3 meals...which meant Katie needed to learn to cook. I've never been particularly excellent at cooking - I try (probably not as much as I should) but it never turns out quite like I want it to.

But having to cook for children is pretty easy. Their diet consisted of dino nuggets, mac & cheese, hotdogs, mini pizzas, and every other delicacy Costco has to offer. Occasionally I tried to give them something healthy, but they really weren't that interested. :) It's pretty easy, and pretty fun to cook for them.

But then there's the moment when my mom asks me to cook something for Thanksgiving dinner...which usually causes me to go into a panic attack. Not that I'm incapable at cooking, or even cooking well (rarely...), but the pressure was different. These are seasoned adults I'm cooking for. They've had a lot of meals from an excellent chef (my mom rocks!).

What I'm getting at here is that the responsibility to feed people is a big one. It is a big, fat, giant, humbling one.

"But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' "

The Word is likened to bread here. And tomorrow night, I am in charge of feeding a hungry Wednesday night crowd. I've been speaking for lots of years now - to Oneighty (our youth ministry for those of you who are new). But it's just easier with them. I know them well, I've been through their season, I'm older, wiser (maybe), etc. But tomorrow night, I'm feeding the grownups - and it makes my stomach a little sick. Don't get me wrong, I'm really excited and so honored...but also very aware of the responsibility.

I would like to add a disclaimer here for all of you thinking, "Oneighty is just as important as big church!" And to you I would say, you are absolutely, 100% right. There is no difference in importance - only in my comfort level. Many people would be terrified to speak to Oneighty, and sometimes I still am. But I've grown there - it's where I learned to speak.

This...this is a whole new deal.

I will be speaking to people who have children older than I do, people that are going through divorces, people hurting and broken in ways that I could never understand.

I guess throughout all of these ramblings, I'm just trying to say that I have a new perspective. I've just had a refresher course this week in the humility and integrity and responsibility it takes to be a feeder.

But people are starving, and I've got food to give...

Thanks for reading,

Katie