Tip of My Iceberg

Hurricane Debby has come upon us, and with it a massive amount of rain. I’ve learned that when it rains heavily, these egrets come to feast on lawns in our area. A community meal, like a pancake breakfast for everyone, except they serve insects.

Unlike other birds or animals that hide during heavy downpours, these little guys shrug the rain off their shoulders and dig into the bug and worm feast that a saturated lawn provides. Their sturdy outer feathers repel water and the soft downy inner feathers keep them warm.

Why pass up a great buffet because of a little water?

Personally, I’d prefer being indoors when it rains, dry, with a good book, and a cup of tea or coffee. If I’m going to consume food, I’d like to do it at a table with family and friends without water dripping on our heads.

How, where, and what one wants to feast on is a personal preference.

There are many reasons to prepare and participate in a sumptuous repast. Celebrations of all kinds like holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and homecomings. Growing up, Mom and her two sisters shared the three major holidays that we celebrated as a family: Aunt Mae had Thanksgiving, Aunt Ann had Christmas, and Mom had Easter. Each had to create a meal tasty and sizeable enough to feed close to thirty people who came each year.

Food is a necessary part of life. We eat to sustain ourselves in health and to enjoy the company of those we eat with. A feast is a large sumptuous meal typically eaten in celebration of something. Eating with others is an opportunity for fellowship with people and to get to know them better over a meal.

photo courtesy of krakenimages on Unsplash

In Jesus’ time, and still practiced often in the Middle East, hospitality was incredibly important, a practice of serving others with love, humility, and compassion. It was an expected value; if strangers came into town, someone would often take them in, offering food and shelter.

Jesus used opportunities of meals at the homes of others to teach, encourage, and show love to people, often those who had no standing in the community. He used the image of a meal to share how He longed for people to understand the grace and forgiveness He provided and how easy it was to receive that gift.

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20. It was an invitation to invite Jesus in for eternal companionship with Him, a relationship of love, trust, and forgiveness. Jesus never demands our attention or response; He offers to share His life and love with us as an invitation of a forever relationship. A gift that can be received. No requirements needed other than asking Him in.

Our friendly egrets took advantage of a buggy feast because the time was ripe for such a feast. The invitation was based on need of the birds and availability of the bugs.

Jesus offers the chance to feast with Him forever, making His grace and forgiveness available when we’re ready to receive it.

It’s the kind of feast where you can really dig in.