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"As we express our
gratitude, we must never forget that the highest
appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by
them."
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Famine
Tomorrow marks the Thanksgiving
celebration here in the United
States.
The celebration usually recalls the
story of the Mayflower landing on December 11, 1620. The
Pilgrims arrived just in time for a devastating winter
which claimed the lives of nearly half of the 102
passengers who sailed from Plymouth, England.
Thankfully, the harvest of 1621 was bountiful and
the Pilgrims and neighboring Wampanoag Indians (who
supplied much of the food) celebrated together for three
days.
Most of us have
little fear of starving today, despite the fact that at
least 15 million children will die of hunger somewhere
in the world this year -- 1 every 2 seconds. The World
Health Organization estimates, broadly speaking, that
one third of the world is well-fed, one-third is
under-fed, and one-third is starving. Even in the United
States, some analysts suggest that 1 in every 8 children
under 12 years of age goes to bed hungry every
night.
Famine
abounds. Yet, while these
statistics disturb us, a famine of a different kind
looms.
"Behold, days are
coming," declares the Lord God, "when I will send a
famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst
for water, but rather for hearing the words of the
Lord." (Amos 8:11)
The violence, despair, apathy, and fear of
our day point not just to a struggle for material
resources but to a famine of deeper significance. When
we trample the needy (Amos 8:4), cheat each other
with dishonest scales (Amos 8:5), ignore the weak, or take advantage
of the helpless (Amos 6:6), God withdraws His
Word.
Ultimately, the
famine to fear most is not the empty shelves in our
pantry but the silence of God in our lives.
Ironically, our
lives suffer from verbal overdose but a Word-famine. We
have so much to say and hear so much from others but our
souls wither for lack of nourishment. The famine has
struck our homes and our churches. In rare moments of
crystal clarity we cry out for a Word -- not
entertainment, not persuasion, not hype, not cleverness,
not humor -- but a Word from God. Yet, He speaks only as
we obey.
Half of those
first Pilgrims perished for lack of food. How many of us
are fading amidst a famine of a different
kind?
We thank God this
Thanksgiving for His provision -- and we implore Him
afresh to end the famine that gnaws in our hidden
places.
In HOPE
--
David |
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