4 minute read
The Miracle of the Little Food Closet
from The Contact 2-21-24
by okumc
BY REV. DAVID COOK
In the small town of Lexington, Oklahoma, nestled among the rolling hills and vast fields, there stood a modest church with a humble little food closet. This food closet was stocked with donations from the community, providing a lifeline for those in need. It was tended to by a group of dedicated volunteers who believed in the power of compassion and generosity.
One crisp autumn day, as the leaves danced in the gentle breeze, news spread throughout the town
that Jesus himself was coming to visit. It was a rumor at first, whispered among the townsfolk, but soon it became a fervent belief. People gathered at the church, their hearts brimming with anticipation and hope.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the town, a figure appeared at the doorstep of the church. It was a man with kind eyes and a gentle smile, radiating a sense of peace and serenity. The townsfolk knew in their hearts that this was indeed Jesus.
With a soft voice that seemed to carry the weight of the world,
Jesus spoke to the crowd gathered before him. He spoke of love and compassion, of empathy and understanding. And then, he turned his attention to the little food closet.
“Bring forth what you have,” Jesus said, his voice echoing through the still evening air.
The volunteers hesitated at first, unsure of what to make of his request. But with a sense of trust and faith, they opened the doors of the food closet and presented its contents to Jesus. There were cans of soup and bags of rice, loaves of bread, and jars of peanut butter.
Jesus smiled warmly and nodded
his approval. “Now, let us feed the hungry.”
With a sense of purpose and determination, the volunteers set to work, organizing the food and preparing to distribute it to the townsfolk who had gathered outside. But as they began to hand out the provisions, something miraculous happened.
The food seemed to multiply before their very eyes, replenishing itself as quickly as it was distributed. What was once a modest supply of provisions now seemed inexhaustible, as if touched by the divine.
Word spread quickly throughout the town, and soon people from all
corners came to witness the miracle unfolding before them. Families who had struggled to put food on the table now found themselves with an abundance of provisions, enough to sustain them for weeks to come.
And so it was that Jesus fed 2,323 people utilizing the little food closet in Lexington, Oklahoma. It was a miracle that would be spoken of for generations to come, a testament to the power of faith and the boundless depths of compassion.
And though Jesus would soon depart, his presence would linger on in the hearts and minds of those who had been touched by his love and grace.
As the townsfolk gathered together to share in the bountiful
feast, they knew in their hearts that they had witnessed something truly extraordinary. From that day forward the doors to the food bank were open the third Saturday of each month and for the past sixteen years, people of the surrounding towns were fed through the gifts of others much like themselves. The spirit of Jesus stood in the middle of that little church and those who gave to that food bank were the very fishermen of our time.
The spirit of Jesus continues to this day each third Saturday as the doors of Lexington United Methodist Church Food Bank are open in love and grace to serve the community. It’s a Jesus Thing!
