Waiting at the Door for Hope
But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of meal in a jar, and a little oil in a jug; I am now gathering a couple of sticks, so that I may go home and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it, and die." Elijah said to her, "Do not be afraid; go and do as you have said; but first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterwards make something for yourself and your son." 1 Kings 7:12-13
Last night when Kathy Yinger checked the church to make sure the doors were locked she found surprise. At the front door of the church was a cat carrier with a lovely but frightened little calico cat inside. Someone left her there, hoping that she would find a good home.
All day I have wondered about the person who left the calico. At first I was horrified and angry that someone could be so mean and heartless, but reason quickly asserted itself. Surely
they were one of the many who had lost their jobs and now, were trying
to figure out a way to rearrange responsibilities and reorder their
life. Or perhaps
they were one of those who have taken family members in to keep them
from homelessness and found that they were allergic to cats. Maybe the calico was not their cat at all, but one that was abandoned on their doorstep. I
will never know the reason someone had for abandoning this sweet cat,
but what I know for sure is that whoever they are they need our prayers.
In these times many people have minds clouded with quiet desperation. They
are like the Widow of Zarephath from 1 Kings 17:7-24 whose situation
led her to the belief that death was only one wheat cake away for her
and her son. The situation was real. There was famine in the land. There was very little reason to hope that she could provide food for one more day for her son. So she resolved to die with him in her arms. She had lost all hope. But then Elijah came, asking for her last meal. She, who had not hope, gave away her last meal, and in so doing gained her future back. God filled her jar of oil and meal and continued to nourish her and her son through the famine. God even answered Elijah's prayer and brought her son back from death when he became ill.
Who will be the Elijah of today? Who will bring God's word of hope, nourishing food and healing presence to the people who need it today? Do we have the courage to choose to share our abundance without fear that we will lack, to stand for hope and not desperation? Can we open our hearts and our lives to others that they might live a better life? Will the sweet calico find a good home? Yes! Yes! Yes!
