John 17:21

"That they may all be one."

Reflection by Christina Villa

I used to be one of those people who, when asked to donate something to a food drive, would look in the pantry for a can of something we were never going to eat and donate that. The pumpkin puree I was never going to make into a pie was a regular contribution. A tiny can of mushrooms. Some sort of prune butter. A box of "lite" microwave popcorn.  And once, I'm not proud to say, a jar of maraschino cherries.

I would feel guilty but convince myself that prune butter and canned mushrooms were better than nothing if you're really hungry. The food that families would actually eat, I reasoned, was required by MY family. I couldn't be expected to give that away. It would be irresponsible.

Then time passed and life happened and I grew increasingly aware of my own financial vulnerability. Paradoxically, this made me more generous. It was no longer impossible to see myself as someone who might need donated food someday. And if that day came, how would I feel face-to-face with someone's castoff pickled beets?

As current economic trends send more families to food pantries, Jesus' prayer (and the UCC motto), "that they may all be one," takes on additional meaning. The UCC's Mission:1 campaign, happening right now, is named in recognition of the power of many individuals and churches coming together to take action on one urgent issue: hunger and food-related injustice.

In more ways than we usually realize, we already are one. "They" includes you and me. We can take hope in the power that flows when people release their confident belief in "us" and "them," when they look at someone else and recognize, "That could be me." 

Prayer

Dear God, when I'm asked to give, help me give the very best of all that I've received.  Amen.

About the Author Christina Villa is on the staff of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio.

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