I'll Pay for Yours!

I get a chuckle out of my folks; as they have gotten older, their eating habits have changed, particularly when they go out to dinner. They frequently share an entrée, but even when my father has chosen to order his own meal, his response is often" I'll have what she's having!"

I found myself at Subway a few weeks ago on my way to a meeting in Cedar Rapids. I was a little disturbed when I saw that the line was long and that there was only one person behind the counter, knowing that I'd be waiting longer than I had expected. Striking up a conversation with the young woman behind me, we discussed the menu choices. When I revealed the ingredients of my favorite sandwich, she looked at the woman behind the counter and said, "I'll have what she's having!" As we got to the cash register, my newly found friend looked at me and said, "I'll pay for yours." Life is full of acts of grace, and that was one of them.

It won't be long now; we're on the last leg of our journey to the cross. Soon, we'll be invited to join the disciples at the table as we eat the bread of life that will nourish and sustain us for the days ahead. I think it will be worth changing our spiritual eating habits so that we can say, "I'll have what he's having," sharing in the ultimate act of grace as Jesus reveals the divine ingredients of forgiveness and eternal life. And remember: in Jesus' death and resurrection, he has said to each one of us, "I'll pay for yours."