“5 Seconds”

In the Bread for the World Website, the obvious is stated - “In essence, hunger is the most extreme form of poverty, where individuals or families cannot afford to meet their most basic need for food.
1.02 billion people across the world are hungry.
Every day, almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes--one child every five seconds.”
5 seconds. The time needed to bring food from the plate to the mouth. The time needed to reject food on the plate out of dislike either because of texture, color or taste.
This is food for thought for us - the next time we eat food or waste it, the next time we take food in or take it for granted, a child, in some other part of the world, or even in our community, dies because of lack of food.
It is not that we should avoid food nor the enjoying of delicacies. Food is important, basic for us, necessary for us to live. That is why Jesus described himself as bread, essential for our life. Mother Teresa puts it well, “There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things that we could use.”
The next time we have food to eat and enjoy - be grateful. It is God’s gift. Waste it not, it is God’s blessing. Share it, it is God’s.
It is also a challenge for our community not just to provide bread and fish but to teach our members also to fish. Our Gospel message is not just of temporary relief but of total liberation of the person, body and soul.
And, when Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life,” Mother Teresa puts it correctly - “We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.” Furthermore, she says “It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start.”
Allow me to share with you an email sent to me, a short story entitled Breakfast at McDonald's:
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with. Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'
The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions. I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did. I did not move an inch.... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling'. His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.
He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.
The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.
He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).
Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.
I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you.. God is here working through me to give you hope.' I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope.' We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers.
That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?'
I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.
In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student. I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
There are so many hungry people in the world, hungry for real bread, for food. There are so many hungry people in the world, hungry for “real” bread, for love and acceptance. Let us do our part in sharing and feeding, in allowing God to work through us, to give hope, food for the body and soul…