So That Nothing May Be Lost

After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” John 6:1-15 

So That Nothing May Be Lost

Some days a simple start becomes an end
things brake down and things are lost
people likewise are lost and afraid
turning hard and protective in their fear.

When cut loose from all that we know
we can be like children suddenly orphaned
crying ourselves to sleep in the darkest nights
our broken heart visible to all around.

We can be like sheep without a shepherd
wandering into deep valleys and strange places
running from wolves real and imagined
alone without a sense of direction or purpose.

The Divine finds us in the midst of our loss
we broken fragments are gathered up
we who loose our way are given a map
love restores us even as we are still weeping.