Five Loaves and Every Excuse

A week ago, after finishing work on a Sunday afternoon, I had some free time to sit down and listen to a pleasant podcast titled “Suffering (part 1)” 

Initially, I expected this audio session, brought to me by Michael Gungor and “Science” Mike, to involve some sort of break down on how to move through hard painful things into some sort of peace and joy. Instead, I was curb stomped with visceral story-telling that included painful retellings of immigration, racism, poverty, lack of water, and lack of caring. Sometimes as I listen to Kris Vallotton’s sermons I glean some of the same effect that this, more recent message asserted, “If you’re feeling sorry for yourself maybe go spend some time in a soup kitchen or walk around a hospital… Find someone who is in a worse condition than yourself, and get over yourself.”

While that sounds harsh it’s not meant to be.

Pain is real, and many times it’s hard to see past it. Like a veil, pain can sometimes blind us to what’s really important, as we just scream to God to stop the waves from breaking on us. However, clarity makes itself known when we stand up from our kiddy pool, after we hear the screams of someone who may actually be drowning. Our troubles seem not so big anymore, and many times, we can become mobilized and set into action.

It’s a good swap, but it requires trust that I, as an individual, will be okay. Maybe this battle for homeostasis is a little easier for other people, because if you’re like me you may at any moment feel fatally flawed, turn to a poverty mentality, and hold desperately onto anything of worth. This closed hand, closed mind thinking leads to terrible selfishness, which will lock away futures. 

The reality is that you do have something to give. We all do. 

Jesus was able to take five loaves, two fish, and multiply them to feed thousands of people, a genuine miracle, but five loaves and two fish needed to be offered up in the first place. Oftentimes, I find myself strangle-holding the resources that could make all the difference in what God wants to do in my life and in the lives of others.

After many years of seeing passionate activists fade and die out as they blame everyone else for how the world is–it’s time that I actually started dealing with the problem.

Me.

I’m the problem and so are you, but we don’t have to be.  

We could literally stop world hunger in my generation if we died to ourselves and sacrificed some things that actually hurt a little. If we started valuing others welfare over our safety, security, and comfort we might actually make a difference, so here’s my first step. 

I am pledging my 26th birthday, April 2, 2017, to Charity Water under the “Make a Difference” Campaign. https://my.charitywater.org/stephen-zenner/make-a-difference 

Instead of getting me gifts or presents this year, please consider donating to Charity Water to bring clean water to people all around the world. A gift of $30 can bring clean water to one person in a country without clean drinking water. 

Charity Water is an impeccable charity organization as well as a completely transparent steward of funds.

you can check them out here: https://www.charitywater.org/ 

My goal is $500, and with that money we will have provided clean water to 16 people. 16 lives forever changed!

I know that we can raise $500, and possibly much more!

Please consider donating $26 in honor of my 26th birthday. 

you can do so here: https://my.charitywater.org/stephen-zenner/make-a-difference

Thank You and God Bless 🙂