Fearless Faith

Responding to food insecurity Let’s face it; the pandemic has altered how we do food. Some of us have become more resourceful and efficient in our food choices. We shop differently, meal plan differently, stock our pantries differently, and occasionally try new recipes based on what is re-discovered in the bottom tiers of the freezer, a heretofore perilous adventure in the best of times.

What is truly dismaying is the food we wasted by not keeping a more current inventory of our home canned goods. Some items are forgivable. It appears that there is a near infinite shelf life for jalapeno jelly but we would rather not risk cracking open eleven-year-old canned pumpkin unless we are running out of other options. Our dilemma included thirty or so cases of jars sitting idle the last five years. Where is the stewardship in that? After some debate, we concluded that it made no sense to continue to store something that was not being used. It was good to know that the jars would be put to good use once again.

In a pre-seminary life, I recall sitting through a graduate course in ag economics wondering to what end I was being led. To my surprise I found myself facing one of the clearest understandings of the world to emerge from any animal or food production course. In regard to global food security; the fastest, easiest, most cost effective and expeditious way to subjugate human populations is through starvation, more kindly described as controlling food resources. It is sobering to imagine starvation as a political tool yet it exists as an option for many world governments.

Closer to home, what is the value of a stable food supply in this country? It is a question that will receive greater scrutiny in the near future as concerns over health, economics, climate, and political unrest chart their courses. On a more personal level, what shall be our response as caretakers for one another? It’s not an easy question.

USDA data from 2018 suggests that food insecure households in our country represent approximately ten percent of all households. There are many facts, figures, and definitions available which undergird like conclusions. When the human element is factored in, many feel unqualified to help when the problem appears so large. It is frequently easier to respond without focusing too much on the big picture. Instead, a donation or contribution to a local food bank leverages others’ response in important ways. No single gift in itself will turn things around. The opportunity, though, of joining with others in small helpful ways can result in significant progress.

Many churches and individuals are discovering new ways to address food insecurity issues worldwide through programs that provide livestock and training to families in need, locally and abroad. Some projects include the gifting of ducks, goats, honey bees, chickens, and dairy heifers. Frequently, these programs require that the fruits of the initial projects must be shared in part with others. Self-sufficiency begins to find a home when it is nurtured.

In Matthew, righteous people challenge Jesus’ suggestion that they aren’t looking after the business of the Kingdom by, in part by ignoring those who are hungry. Look around, Jesus suggests, they are in our midst. How shall we respond?