All the Free Lunches

"When I look back on my life, what jumps out is how many variables had to fall in place in order to give me a chance" (J.D. Vance, "Hillbilly Elegy," p.239.

Many years ago, a man of considerable success and wealth said to a group of Rotarians, "Life is full of free lunches."

He went on to list so many things and people that simply came to him as gift, out of the blue, if you will, or from the hand of God, as some might say.

A loving home and the wisdom of mindful parents.
Teachers who cared and encouraged and challenged.
The network of family and friends who looked after him.
His own ambition and good health.
His dreams and energy.

Professors who never let him get away with shoddy work.
Folks who helped him get his first job.
The banker who loaned him money, on his word.
And all along the way, people, even strangers, who showed up at the right time.
And all of those fortuitous moments, too numerous to mention, and mostly unknown.

All of these, and more, the free lunches of life.

Here was a wise man who understood that his life was a gift, not a achievement of his own doing, and as such, there was only response, and that was gratitude, immense and all-consuming, gratitude, and the promise, the pledge, to be a free lunch for others.

How it should work, who knows.

Some have the opportunity, but something gets in the way.
A crummy family life.
Poor health.
Bad choices and no one around to cushion the fall.
Who knows?

A spectrum of variables, bits and pieces.

But this much I know, for those who "make it," there's only one legitimate response, gratitude. And maybe a huge amount of humility, as well.

Too many people walk around these days with their arms in a sling, broken arms, for patting themselves so vigorously on the back.

But for the woman or the man who truly understands the millions, even the billions, of variables that had to come together at just the right time so they could make, there is no back-patting, but only open arms and open hands to everyone around them.

And the best we can do is give and keep on giving free lunches.

Government programs, of course.
Personal engagement, you bet.
Financial support for aid organizations, all the way.

And many more moments and variables in which we can play a part for others.

Gratitude

Gratitude …

Sure, it’s a good word.

Who doesn’t want to be grateful?

Or at least, to talk about it.

But gratitude can be a surface thing.

Like a suntan, fleeting for a season …

Words we say, or sing, or pray.

But deep down, something strange and dark.

We actually believe in ourselves more than God.

That it’s our work,

Our diligence,

Our intelligence,

Our drive,

Our ambition,

Our dreams,

Our … whatever … fill in the blank …

That made the day and spread the table,

And filled the bank account and filled

The gas tank.

And I did it my way.

I mean, is it me that provides the daily bread spread upon the table?

Or is there some hidden mystery here that I prefer to ignore.

Some might call it chance.

Or fate.

Or the luck of the draw.

Or it is what it is.

A mystery, that I’d like to ignore … that I have things … and a home … daily bread … and work.

Some would call it grace.

Even God.

But if it’s grace that provides …

If it’s God that gives …

Then I can’t be anything but really grateful …

And humble …

And never again look down my nose at anyone who has less …

And never again suggest that I did it, and so can they,

If they would only work as hard as I have worked hard …

As if I could make the sun rise,

And the wheat grow,

And the stocks rise,

And the world go around …

By my work.

Paul the Apostle, in a fit of disgust with those who pinned

Medals on their chest, wrote,

“I’ve worked harder than all of you.

But it really wasn’t me.”

It was grace at work within in me.”

Poor Paul.

He can’t escape grace.

Grace gives him the work, and

The strength.

The vision.

The moment.

The opportunity.

The “luck” as some would say.

Just grace.

Damn it all!

Just grace.

To shape these hearts into something sweet and soft.

Kindly and gracious.

Humble,

Grateful.

God gave it all to me: every bit of it.

And God might well take it all away, if that’s what it takes …

To transform hearts of stone into hearts of flesh.

To say the prayer with simple trust:

“Give us this day,

our daily bread.”