You Are What You Eat

When I was a kid I’d eat most anything – with the exception of Brussel Sprouts. Those things looked and smelled like something left behind by an oversized Praying Mantis.   I was not in the least bit surprised to discover that they tasted just like I had imagined giant bug droppings to taste. And, having heard from an early age that you are what you eat (my second father was a Nutritionist), I envisioned turning into a round little green boy that smelled like insect scat. Convinced that you are what you eat, after all an adult said it, I developed a strategy to avoid consumption of this so-called vegetable. It worked, too. Well, to a point. I filled my mouth with all the sprouts on my plate, excused myself to the washroom and disposed of them where they belonged in the first place. There was an obvious flaw in my plan. I gagged and choked on the foul things, drawing attention to what I had done. In an ill-fated effort to encourage me to eat those droppings, I was told, “If you don’t eat your Brussel Sprouts you will grow up to be a girl.” That horrified me. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve liked girls from a very early age. I just wasn’t sure I wanted to grow up to be one. But, I also knew there was no way I was going to eat those sprouts no matter what. Caught in a dilemma and thinking, ‘Well, if I’m going to turn into a girl I’m certainly not sticking around for anyone to witness the transformation.’  So, I jumped up from the table, ran to the sliding glass door, slid it open, ran through the backyard and hid behind the house in the vineyard. I probably would have stayed in the vineyard indefinitely had my mother not come out and assured me that I was “all boy and would continue to be all boy.” To be perfectly candid, I still believe we are what we eat, at least in regard to our spiritual journey.

One of my favorite stories from the life of Jesus is the feeding of the five thousand. It is my favorite first because Jesus began His day feeling compassion for people. It isn’t simply the compassion that strikes me; it is the circumstances from which Jesus felt the compassion. John the Baptist had been beheaded and Jesus withdrew to mourn the loss. He withdrew by boat and thinking He had reached a place where He could mourn in private, He was greeted by thousands.  Instead of getting angry and pointing out His need to be alone He spent the entire day healing the sick. Evening approached and everyone was hungry, especially, I think the disciples. They wanted to send the crowd packing. They were being practical. There was no way they could feed that many people. But sometimes, in the Kingdom of Heaven there is no room for being practical and this was one of those times. Jesus response to the disciples was, “You give them something to eat (Matt. 14:16, NIV).” Ha! I love that part! They must have strained their eyes trying not to roll them in response. They said, “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.”   Jesus told them to bring what they had. Taking the bread, Jesus thanked the Father for what they had and broke up the bread and gave it back to the disciples and they in turn broke up the bread and gave it to the people. Matthew tells us that everyone ate until they were full and not one went hungry. There were even leftovers – twelve baskets of bread. See what I mean? A fantastic story! But hidden within the story is a treasure worth holding. What the disciples had to offer was not enough. However, when they accepted the bread that Jesus gave back to them it was more than enough.

Think for a moment on the Lord’s Prayer. There is a phrase found there that goes like this, “Give us today our daily bread (Matt.6:11).” Now put that in context with the story we reviewed. Bread we receive from God does not run out. It is meant to be shared with others and what bread we have on our own is not enough. I suspect the daily bread we receive from God, merely by asking for it, is very much like the bread spoken of in Exodus 25:30. “Put the bread of the Presence on this table to be before me at all times.” The bread of the Presence is none other than Jesus, Himself. After all, didn’t He refer to Himself as the Bread of Life? If I am to have something of value to give to others that goes beyond wrapped packages on Christmas morning then I need to be receiving bread daily from the Father. Jesus said, “For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world (Jn. 6:33, NIV).” I must spend time with Him. I must be in His Presence.  I must do what He told the disciples to do, “Take and eat; this is my body (Matt. 26:26, NIV).” The result is that when I give of myself to others I am giving what God gave to me. Because, you see - I am what I eat.