Loaves and Fishes and the Tornado in Joplin

Sunday's tornado in Joplin continues to be in the news, on my mind -- and in my heart.

This week, a local business put out the word they would have a truck collecting donations on Thursday at a local grocery store not far from our home. The business asked for donations of food and personal-care items that the folks in Joplin could use as they recover from the tornado damage.

My husband Walt and I decided we wanted to do something.

We aren't wealthy. We're both retired and, for more than six years, we have been raising our grandchildren, Cari and Michael. Our lives have been touched in the past by the kindness of strangers who helped us through dark times. While our days have been marked by deep sorrow, we've also been blessed in many ways and live a comfortable and joyful life.

Anyway, yesterday while I was at Michael's school for field day, Walt went out and bought enough groceries to fill a large banana box with canned goods, shampoo, toothpaste, soap, wet wipes, and mostly personal-use items.

When he got to the parking lot of the grocery store, he was amazed and happy at what he saw. The parking lot was full of people waiting to hand over their donations, while more than five grocery carts overflowing with previously donated items were being loaded into the truck. Walt said he saw people donating everything from dog food to diapers. One woman alone donated 1,000 diapers.

The business sponsoring the event had hoped to fill one truck to drive down to Joplin. As it turns out, by the end of the day they had filled three tractor trailers!

Last night, as Walt described what he saw in the grocery store parking lot, I thought about the miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes. After Jesus finished preaching, he asked his disciples to pass out food to the hungry crowd. Only five loaves and two fishes could be found. The food was passed out and Jesus blessed it. After everyone was fed, twelve baskets of food were left over.

In times like this, when our hearts are open and we are moved by the Spirit, our love is not divided--it is multiplied.