"How Many loaves do you have?" He asked."Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five- and two fish." - Mark 6:38
The Feeding of the Five Thousand is an incredible story of the power of faith and miraculous signs and wonders of the Lord Jesus Christ. For me, the impact of the story takes on a whole new meaning when I relate my life to the inadequacy the disciples must have felt.
There are times when I feel God is speaking to my heart to do something or I feel the need to do something for God. (Either way it is the same thing.) I want to do something but I become overwhelmed with the questions I ask myself; " Do I really have time for this?" How am I going to get the resources to do this? Often this can lead to the point of feeling inadequate.
In the midst of the disciples concern that the large crowd had no food, their concern takes a twist in Mark 6:37, when Jesus tells them they need to provide the people something to eat. Quickly, the disciples establish they do not have the financial ability to provide food for a 5,000 plus crowd in attendance. The only thing they do have is five loaves of bread and two fish. To them it doesn't even seem like it is a drop in the bucket. However, a drop in the bucket is still a drop and God is still God.
Since April 30, 2017, I myself have been on a different journey in the size of my faith than I have ever experienced in my life.
It was the morning after the historic flood had hit our region. I had spent the last 14 hours with the hose of a shop vac in my hand, trying to prevent water from ruining the new air conditioner coil I had installed in the church parsonage by a local contractor. Some of the men from our church showed up to assess the damage to our building, which turned out to be not as bad as we thought. Six feet of water was slamming the backside of our building on the evening of the 29th, but in the morning only 5 inches of water was on the inside because some teenagers had duct-taped trash bags to all the doors and sealed them off. Just a trickle of water was able to get into the building.
But our community of Van Buren had been devastated.
Since that day, my church and I have been serving on the front lines of flood recovery. To the outside world, the flood is something that just happened and we moved on with our lives. Fifteen months later, the residents of Carter County are still in the process of recovering. We are closer today than we were 15 months ago, but there is still much work that needs to be done.
As I am writing this, I am rejoicing over the news that another reconstruction on a home was completed. A family will be moving back home! It was completed by the teamwork of Catholic Charities, a local church, several out-of-state volunteers, and the Carter County Long Term Recovery Committee.
This is where Mark 6:38 kicks in. It was January 2018. The materials were not available like we were told they would be. Since then, most local funds and donations have been used for rebuilds. Two houses are completed and three more on the verge of being completed. The funds we have are a drop in a bucket compared to the needs our residents have.
Which is exactly my point.
Our responsibility is to offer what we have. Jesus said, "How many loaves of bread do you have?" "Go and see." Five loaves and two fish are what they had. The fish and bread were a drop in a bucket.
A pastor I met years ago once told me, "If it is God's will, then it is God's will."
All we have to do is provide the bucket and put in whatever drop we have.
Our church started a local Farmers Market. Booth fees are donated to flood recovery. We started Pastor's Smoked Meats and B.B.Q., where a portion of the profits go to flood recovery. We have raised $4,000 in the last three months.
"Here you go Lord!"
"Here is my bucket and here is my drop. It is all I have to offer you."
As a community, we have invested over $30,000 into the homes of those rebuilding their lives.
Scripture tells us that what we measure out will be measured back unto us.
Pressed down, shaken together and running over!
This has happened in my life in the area of relationships. People who I now consider my friends, that I would have never met if it was not for the flood. In a few hours, I will be travelling to Columbus Junction, Iowa. I will be going there with my wife and some local flood recovery leaders. They are dear people who have become dear friends. We will be visiting with our "Flood Buddies."
The good people of Columbus Junction are celebrating 10 years of recovery since their devastating flood in 2008. They found themselves in a situation similar to ours -- limited resources and limited assistance. So they rebuilt their community themselves. It has been 10 years, so they have adopted Van Buren. They wanted to "pay it forward." Their knowledge and friendship, relationships and resources have been a beacon of light for us in this trial.
So, when the Lord asks you, "How many loaves do you have?" What will your response be?
If you respond, "five loaves and two fish," you will also need 12 baskets for leftovers. If his question is a different question but similar and you respond with one drop, get your bucket ready. Furthermore you will also need a flatbed truck to haul all the buckets that will be filled to the brim. When God is in it, there is no limit!
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Truncone and his wife, Heidi, have been married 25 years. They have two daughters, Hannah, 19, and Abigail, 15.
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Editor's note: This is a regular series featuring area religious leaders writing about faith, family and community. To participate or suggest a church, contact us at news@darnews.com or 573-785-1414.