On my desk sits a little toy gray mouse holding a heart. I call it my church mouse. It serves as a decoration, a distraction/attraction for babies and children who are here with their parents, and a reminder of family Christmases when I received it as a gift. But as a church mouse, it also serves as a reminder of those in need and our need to share.
There is a familiar saying, "poor as a church mouse" that goes way back; how far back I was not able to determine. The depiction of church mice is such an old custom that carved church mice can be found in the wood and stone of medieval churches. Modern church mice can be found carved and hidden in the architecture in many places including Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa and the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
As far as I can tell, the origins of being poor go back to the vows of poverty taken by priests and those in monasteries or convents. Following the biblical mandate to care for the least of these, these places served as hospitals, and also offered food and refuge to the poor and orphans. But inside the church itself, there would be little for a mouse to eat considering that there would be no food stored there, with the communion bread locked safely away.
In fact, the lack of food in a church may be what led some real church mice to gnaw away at the leathers of a pipe organ leaving it silent and unable to be played one Christmas Eve in Austria. The work of those church mice led a desperate pastor priest (Joseph Mohr) and choirmaster (Franz Gruber) to compose the carol "Silent Night". Those church mice created the opportunity for a wonderful blessing.
But most poor church mice and those who are as poor as church mice live in a world that is much bleaker. Poverty is at its highest rate in decades; and the use of food banks and food shelves, often run by churches, reflect the increase in those who hunger. As we celebrate the end of another harvest season and look towards thanksgiving, I encourage us all to remember the poor and find ways to reach out and share our bounty with those truly in need. Bring non-perishable food items to church or the nearest food bank or donate at your grocery store. Give to the ELCA Hunger Program, Lutheran World Relief, Salvation Army, or other charity and/or donate your time.
A lot of people talk about wanting to change but in my experience most people don't really mean it, or if they do, they don't want to change too much. However, if you want the most gratifying experience you can have, volunteer to help feed people either at a food pantry or a soup kitchen or shelter. I guarantee that if you bring food to someone who is truly hungry, it will change you forever.
Last summer, someone came to the church hot and tired and hungry; he hadn't eaten that day or the day before. A few minutes into our conversation, I remembered my forgotten bottle of soda sitting on the corner of my desk as he talked about his needs. I immediately gave it to him. He was so grateful for something I had even forgotten I had. I have experienced that over and over again. We have so much that we won't even notice or miss what we have given and yet it can make such a difference to those in need. God asks over and over again, not for our piety but for us to "give (the hungry) something to eat" (Mark 6:37). Join with me in truly "giving" thanks by giving to those in need especially as the cold sets in around us. Read Isaiah 58:6-10
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