Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/78

Contributor - Jeanette Van Mourik

Title - Reflections on a Singles Retreat

Topic - Singles

"Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12

What a verse! When I look back at certain periods in my life, and think of the number of times I neglected to do something for a friend or family member, I shudder. The excuses of "I didn't feel like it" or "I didn't have enough time" or even "I didn't have any money at that time" were as well used in my vocabulary as I believe probably in yours too.

This past weekend, I had the opportunity of going to the Single's Weekend at Camp Shalom. It was a great weekend for fun, fellowship and learning. The topic for the weekend was on "hunger." And what a topic! In my world, and yours too, there is so much that we have, especially when you realize and see that so many have nothing. We don't have to worry about our next meal or if we will ever get a next meal. We don't have to worry about surviving; there is always somebody here who will help us. Sure, we have to work for it, but is it a matter of luck that we were born in a rich country? And, how many of us always want something bigger and better than what we have already? We're always competing with our neighbours and friends, the Jones' and the Browns. The following verse, which I read after the weekend, had much more impact on me than any other time it was read:

"And He spake a parable unto them, saying, "The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And /he said, This will I do: I will Pull down my barns, and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease; eat, drink and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

Luke 12:16-21 We had a beautiful experience at breakfast on the Sunday morning. There were blue, white and green slips of paper in a bowl from which we had to pick out of before breakfast. It was then explained to us that whatever colour we chose, we were to sit at that table. There was a large table at the front that was divided into three sections. Well, we soon found out that if you had picked the colour green, you could have fried eggs, sausages, cereal, bread (with peanut butter, jam and cheese), coffee or tea, and juice. (I would call this the average North American breakfast). If you had the colour white, you could have everything but the fried eggs and sausages. But, if you had the colour blue, all you were allotted was the bread (peanut butter and jam, no cheese), coffee or tea, and juice. You guessed it. I was one of the unfortunate ones: I picked blue. I can now begin to understand how hungry people feel. The eggs and sausages smelled real good and the cereal would have been better than just "plain old bread." Well, as you can imagine, the blue section was finished in no time, but the other two colours were still savouring their delicious dishes. And since the blues were still hungry ... well?... what do you do when you're hungry? You ask for more ... and that is exactly what the blues did! Some of the kind and considerate people from the other sections did feed us with the left over food. Yes, left-overs! They came after they had their bellies full. Funny, isn't it, how that is with us. Once we've been fed, we might consider those less fortunate, because we feel guilty about throwing out food. Did you know that 1/3 of the world's population (four billion people) are starving?

Food. It's such a major factor in our lives and yet is taken for granted. I know many of you have experienced hunger pains when it gets close to supper, but we do not know the real experience of hunger. That's why I would like to challenge YOU, the people of the Reformed Churches, to go without food! Not forever..just for one meal on two different days in one month; or maybe one meal for seven days spaced over a period of one month. Those of you with experience in fasting might want to miss more than one meal a day. Why go without food? It saves money. Then why not donate the money you would have spent on these meals to an organization that aids the hungry, and/ or helps feed the poor. Find an arrangement that is suitable and reasonable to YOU. It will help you to understand how these people feel and also you are giving of your riches to something very valuable in God's eyes. Remember, our riches here on earth will be worth nothing in heaven.

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