Appetite (Spring 2010)

I struggle to read the Bible. I know how to read, so that’s not the problem. I just get distracted. Well, technically my priorities get mixed up. I’ve been doing okay lately. Not every day, mind you. A dear friend and I read in conjunction, which helps.

Today, while hanging out across the street from the St. Louis Public library, I listened to a guy named Shorty talk about how he too struggles to stay consistent in his Bible reading. He talked about how he doesn’t really notice at first that he’s not doing it, but then his actions start to slide a little. Shorty talked about his pastor from his hometown and how she asks him if he’s spending time in the Word. He talked about how it’s a necessity to stay in the Word especially to encourage the men around him to do what it right. He relayed how his pastor once told him that he should be getting to the point in his life where going to his Bible was like going to the refrigerator- he needs to go to it every time he’s hungry. But not just that. He needs to go every time he gets even a craving, even when he’s not really hungry if he wants to get fat.

It’s good to know that someone else struggles with spending time with the Lord like I do. But here’s where I start to feel ashamed.

Shorty is homeless. He doesn’t have a refrigerator.