Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you

will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?  Matthew 6:25-27

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization declared October 16 as World Food Day. The goal is to free humanity from hunger and malnutrition and to effectively manage the global food system.  The theme for 2022 is “Leave No One Behind: Better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life”

In the musical, “Oliver!” one of the memorable songs is “Food Glorious Food”. This song is sung by the orphans as they prepare to eat one of the daily meals of gruel- a sloppy watering porridge.  They can only imagine something better to eat but know the importance of eating.  What is shocking is that Oliver eats this porridge and in a startling moment, walks up to Mr. Bumble and says, “Please sir, I want some more.” This triggers a response in the orphanage that has not occurred. But innocently Oliver states I am hungry and asks for more sustenance.

There are many people needing the basics of life right now. But with food being expensive, scarce in areas and out of reach for many due to climate problems, war and movement of people, food equity is off balance.

But what can one person do you might ask? Surprisingly you can do a lot. If you have the resources you can share what you have with local outreach programs. You can witness the need first hand at any shelter/soup kitchen and you can support the drive for collecting what is needed.

You may also contact many food support international agencies which need people’s financial assistance, but even more than this, the need to tell someone else of the need for helping others in the world and why is critical.

With hurricanes wiping out neighbourhoods, droughts and floods occurring in different pockets around the world and the destruction and losses due to war torn areas, people need food in order to live and in order to survive.

And we need to raise concerns about how we share food—local foodbanks do this regularly as people may donate to one location yet they receive too much of one item for the needs of their clients/ guests. This needs to happen more readily around the world so that every person receives good food.

As we consider this today please pray for those who are hurting, starving, malnourished and seeking any support. And remember that you are the one who can made a difference in the lives of others by learning more.. https://www.fao.org/world-food-day/en 

PRAYER

God for the blessings of food, shelter, clothing and hope we praise you! We also know that not everyone receives these blessings and so we pray for discussions that occur around food equity.  Enable leaders to talk and then put into action what is needed to feed the many who are starving or malnourished. Hear us O God we pray. Amen