“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (John 6:9, ESV)
(On some days, followers of the blog may need to go back to some key posts to understand what I’m talking about.) The Lord knows. It’s amazing that I am struggling in the same thing –look it up on Blogger-, not long, and I’ve still fell for it… IF I’ve fell for it, knowingly. Yesterday, I saw a Pfizer commercial so touching. What a teen looked like he was going to vandalize, he wrote a “BE BRAVE” in graffiti for a sick girl (maybe her sister?). What does this mean, other than more than medication?
I saw another video on Yahoo! last night, about a woman in Indianapolis, who prayed for ten minutes while being robbed. As the Lord is merciful, the robber had a change of heart, and talked to her for like forty minutes. She also received faith that maybe was lost, and pleaded for Christians to open up. What happened to the robber, then? When he left- with nothing more than $20, he turned himself in later. She was being brave, with her life.
Two stories, different, have one connection: bravery. What became a calling for bravery also became a chance to point down unorthodox ways in which encouragement can be displayed. Back to the story, I ask: “How Come?” How come a kid, a small kid, could give up all that he had so that God could use a miracle? (I have this marked on my Bible in Spanish.) This, in fact, was the study the last Thursday I went to church. How come the apostles, knowing that many people may have had way more or way less, decide to pick a child with only a 5/2 ration? What does this mean? Why did he give that up that easily?
The boy was being brave. What he didn't know is that his contribution was marked as a miracle in history, perpetuated by generations of the Bible. The kid had a large amount of faith to willingly –willingly- give all what he dad. He gave it all for Jesus, One that he may have heard, even if it was so small. How can we imitate this kid? How can we imitate his faith? How can we surrender, being brave, even if we face trips and falls, deliberate sins, fears and failures?
Let me be brave, let me be brave…