Wandering Aramean: That’s quite a pile of grain you have there, Mr. Building-Bigger-Barns!

Mr. Building-Bigger-Barns: Tell me about it. I’m definitely going to have to build bigger barns! Who are you?

WA: I’m just a wandering Aramean, but most people know me as ‘Jacob’.

1976 was the bicentennial year for the United States. It was also year number one of recovery from a three-year recession, during which 2.3 million Americans lost their jobs. This was a post-World War II record, which only punctuated the impact felt by tens of million of people.

Remember when we spoke on the phone last year? Thanks for taking my call!

Don’t worry if you can’t remember. I do.

When the pandemic first hit, you explained to me how giving at your church had dipped significantly. But then you shared how members found ways to give, even though they couldn’t meet in person. Some simply mailed in their contributions, while others set up online giving accounts. I even heard about arrangements for a local bank to take offerings through the window at the drive-up teller!

“Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” (John 6:27, NIV)

I saw it this morning, while walking my dog. An hour before daybreak, the shadowy figure of a coyote disappeared and re-appeared between the streetlights just ahead of us. After my dog let out a nervous huff, it stopped, turned to stare at us, and then kept trotting ahead.

Here’s my granular take on this hard saying from Jesus.