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Giving
thanks for the Bread of Life
Of
the pilgrims that landed at Plymouth Rock in December 1620,
only half survived the difficult winter. The successful harvest
the following year was cause for celebration and thanksgiving.
Since then, Thanksgiving traditions in America naturally center
around a family feast. Here at The City Mission, we are grateful
for the many people who give of their time or money to make
it possible for us to reach out to thousands of people throughout
the year. This Thanksgiving alone we will be sharing the bounty
with about 800 individuals and families who receive food baskets.
Besides that, nearly 400 people will gather for "The Great
Thanksgiving Banquet" on November 19th.
"Do
not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to
eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you."
John
6:27, NIV
But
a hot meal is only the beginning for the hundreds of men,
women and children who come to The City Mission in need. Every
person that comes to The City Mission also is given the opportunity
to receive of the Bread of Life. "Jesus declared, 'I am the
bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and
he who believes in me will never be thirsty.' " (John 6: 35,
NIV). How is it that a person can partake of the Bread of
Life?
It
is through hearing and receiving His Word into our innermost
being. Jesus said, "The words I have spoken to you are spirit
and they are life." (John 6: 63, NIV).
A
sense of worthlessness and hopelessness pervades the lives
of many who come to the City Mission. It is the Bread of Life
that restores their dignity, worth and hope. It seems to be
a paradox, but when people come to the end of themselves,
when they have lost nearly everything, it is then that they
acquire a deep sense of gratitude for things we would ordinarily
take for granted.
A
resident of Angeline Home (The City Mission's women's shelter)
was heard to say, "I'm thankful I'm not dead," after surviving
several near-death experiences. A graduate of the Pathways
Youth Program, now a college student, says she is thankful
that she made it out of the inner city without having a baby
or getting into drugs. A man who once lived in his car with
all his worldly possessions, was thankful that his car was
stolen, because it was that incident that brought him to the
Mission and to the Lord.
Jesus
came not just to sustain life, but to give life! We join Simon
Peter in proclaiming, "Lord, to whom would we go? You alone
have the words that give eternal life." (John 6: 68, NLT).
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