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Dictionary.com defines a picnic as “an excursion or outing in which the participants carry food with them and share a meal in the open air.” I remember one picnic in my life very clearly. It was a beautiful summer day in 1982. It was a spur-of-the-moment plan, but I met with a girlfriend and her sister at a nearby park. We picked a spot near the river that ran through the beautiful wooded area. We sat on the grass eating egg salad stuffed tomatoes, potato salad and chocolate chip cookies. We thoroughly enjoyed the food, the atmosphere and, most of all, the company.
I am always amazed that the memories of that day are still so fresh in my mind even after all these years. I have had many a great meal in a restaurant but the memories of that fade. Why does this picnic stand out so much? I think it is the elements of open air, homemade food and good friends that make the memory so memorable.
Mark 6:30-44 tells a story of a picnic, of sorts, with Jesus. The day had started, for Jesus and His disciples, as a get-away; a chance to rest and regroup. But the people there saw who it was and came to Him and He had compassion for them. He started teaching and when He was done He fed the crowd. They only had five loaves of bread and two fish to feed over 5,000 people (now that’s what I call a picnic!). In verse 41, Jesus looked to Heaven, gave thanks and broke the bread. They feed everyone that day and had leftovers. What a miracle!
How do we, today, create that kind of wondrous event? The elements are all there for us to take advantage of. All we need is a quiet place to go, some simple food and someone to share the meal with. Obviously, we cannot meet with Jesus in human form, but we can have Him in spirit form in our lives every day.
All we have to do is invite Jesus in and He will come and fill us with His spirit. His indwelling makes the trees more beautiful, the river more calming, the food taste better, and the company more meaningful.
Today, I step away from my hurried life, just for a short time, to have a picnic with Jesus. I also plan to have more picnics this summer with Christian friends so we can fellowship, exchange ideas and stories and grow closer to Jesus. Not only will these times nourish our bodies, they will also nourish our souls and strengthen our faith.
A picnic may seem like a small thing in the scheme of life, but the impact one can make is substantial. So dust off that old picnic basket, call some friends and meet away from the distractions we know to be commonplace. You may be surprised at what Jesus can accomplish in that short period of time. Do not forget to look to Heaven and give thanks!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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