FOOD FOR THOUGHT
(02/06/2011)
YEAR
OF THE RABBI
Cindy Hong
Several years ago while living in Dallas , Jennifer
and I shared an apartment. We met during our first year at DTS and continued
to split the bills after graduating. The apartment was near lots of things
important to us—Starbucks for me, the mall for her, and located between
her seminary job and the church I was serving at. After we moved in, several
fun restaurants followed, and discovering these places made for some fine
dining. For example, one day we went to check the mail and realized that
nestled between all the advertisements was a coupon for a free Chick-fil-A
sandwich. And because the coupon was hidden in all the grocery store and
furniture ads, some residents threw the whole stash in the trash. Now
comes the perk of apartment living: hundreds of mailboxes placed together.
We developed a system. She'd guard the entrance area when cars pulled
up with residents checking their mail, and when the coast was clear, I'd
dive into the 55-gallon trash can and rummage for Chick-fil-A coupons.
Because each coupon translated into a free sandwich, all pride and dignity
magically dissipated. After I skimmed the top half of the trash, we'd
switch positions since she was taller and could dig deeper in the trash
can. With sore abs and arm pits, we'd walk back to the apartment counting
our chicken sandwiches. The scene was replayed with a Chipotle opening
and their free burrito offer. Most residents kept their coupons, but the
few we gathered made it seem like Christmas all over again. When I look
back on my life, it seems that no matter what really, whether it be school
or a place to live or someone to share the bills with or food to eat,
God somehow provides. And amply so. The greatest rabbi who ever lived
once preached a sermon on the side of a mountain. He mentioned that his
Father provides for the lilies of the field, the birds of the air, and
if I could add, rabbits everywhere. And so while we celebrate another
new year, may we remember this year that our God supplies all our needs,
immeasurably beyond what we can ask or imagine, and whether we enjoy ourselves
by eating noodles for long life or dumplings for a rich life or fish for
an abundant life, may we be like sticky rice cakes, stuck to Jesus in
a vine and branch kind of communion. May this year be about our Rabbi
and us learning to do life together with Him. Let's eat!
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