If stubbornness was an animal it would be a mule. If persistence was anthropomorphized it might be a Percheron. Both of them are capable of plowing a field.
In church the story was about the person who banged on
the door of a neighbor at midnight to ask for bread. The scenario is barely two sentences, and yet it was enough to keep me pondering for awhile. Some of us may not be the bossy sort who ask repeatedly for what we want, yet God seems to be encouraging us to stick with it. I cringed to recall a current instance in which I have given up quickly. Then again we could be the person inside, sleepy to the needs of someone else, who takes repeated jostling to rise to action. That shoe also fits. The
minister unpacked it still further. Maybe our heart is urging our intellect to shake off complacency, and bring the goodness represented by loaves of bread to someone who is spiritually hungry. I only have two feet but this shoe fits too. Then again maybe our intellect is pounding on the door of our minds, asking our heart to open up to reason. There have been moments when my stinginess succumbed to dogged requests.
In the abstract the scene is funny. Who needs food urgently in the middle of the night? And yet, when I translate it to a time of darkness, emotional hunger makes perfect sense.
Today I greeted someone that I know is facing a looming unknown. I listened for a minute, and even hugged her. But the phrase "gave as much as
she needs" does not apply. Maybe I could address that.
"And he said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him,'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him,' and he will answer from within and
say,'Do not trouble me, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you'? I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs." Luke 11.
