Rev. Jacki BelileFor a couple reasons, “manna in the wilderness” is on my mind. If you don’t know what that is, and what follows doesn’t help, just google it.

One reason: I’ve been using the idea of “crumbs” a lot in recent devotional moments. Sometimes I just have crumbs to offer. You, too. And Jesus takes our crumbs – whatever we can sincerely hand over – AND IT IS ENOUGH in his blessed hands. Sometimes Little bit of nothing is… enough.

If you have more moments than usual of feeling like you’re just barely stitched together, you’re IN GOOD COMPANY. We’re all in the wilderness right now (see Exodus 16), and God’s provision is enough, still.

Another reason manna is on my mind, strangely enough, is this week’s All Saints Sunday observance. We return this week to the wisdom of Hebrews 11-12 and a mindfulness of our faithful “cloud of witnesses” who have gone before us. Geesh, they had it hard. Those before Christ and the book’s author, and so also all those since.

One of the truths which may be holding me together is that we are not alone in the wilderness we face. Not only is the Eternal One closer than our breath, but also this: we have the lessons of our loved ones departed, and the ancestors through time, to accompany us. When we celebrate All Saints Sunday, we celebrate the faithful God who gives us the gift of this life, however imperfect we or our “saints” were. We celebrate what we know in their lives and all that we’re yet learning because of them.

I am reminded that there were no “saints” of the past who had things easier than we do now. (Well, okay, maybe certain faith and family strengths made some things easier, but by no means has life ever been some God-ordained “cake walk.”)

Like us, they had to learn hard lessons on trusting God and receiving whatever provisions and paths God had for them. Like them, we ponder today what God could be doing through the manna given in our moment.

It’s this tender and trusting mood I carry in these days. Tired, tender and trusting. Thank God we’re in the wilderness together!

In Christ’s Peace,
Pastor Jacki