Many of us brought up in the church have heard about the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes from the time we could sit upright in those uncomfortable little chairs in the church nursery until we got old enough to think of the logistics of trying to feed a big group of grumpy guests. Of all the miracles attributed to the ministry of Jesus, this is one of two that show up in all the Gospels. The other one, you may ask. That would be the resurrection of Christ. Such gaudy company would seem to indicate this is a pretty important event.

I have heard it used as an example of how we should give our all even if it isn’t much, and we aren’t mature. This puts the owner of the loaves and fishes, a child, into the role of protagonist. When Christ comes calling, you surrender your all. A child will lead them. Right?

I have also heard it used as an example of the greatness of Christ, the leader who overcame the doubts of his closest followers with but a thought to feed thousands. What a great example of how proximity to Jesus opens the door to blessing upon blessing of abundance even when the level of faith is low and doubt is high. We all dream of eternal leftovers.

Have you ever considered the miracle from the perspective of the loaves and fishes, though? Hear me out. For me, their perspective makes more sense. How many of us identify with the loaves? Maybe we have been called half-baked, or we don’t have the energy to rise (can you say unleavened?), or we’re a little burned and crusty.

Maybe you identify with the fishes. You are totally out of your element, a fish out of water. You are dead inside, but your eyes are wide open. You might even be a little smelly and not everyone’s taste, but here you are in the basket, waiting to be consumed for the benefit of a tiny person or two. You are at the end of your cycle and your contributions are going to be minor at best. Sounds like me on a Monday!

You didn’t walk yourself to this moment. Someone else got you here. You didn’t prepare yourself. Someone else or life itself readied you for this moment. You are just hanging out, going through the steps, waiting to be done. Then, out of nowhere, along comes this Jesus. Next thing you know, miracles start happening. Where you only had enough for one, you now have enough for more. Where you thought today was the end, you find that there is more left of you, and not just scraps, but meals, sustenance, life. You matter.

On that day, just like today, God desires to know what is in the basket. I pray you will embrace the gift of being loaves and fishes.