Pono – (po-nay); 1. Full; 2. Filling something to the limit;
3. Getting enough food.
I heard these words at a feeding that I went to today.”
Pono!” “Pono!,” they would say to me. Sadly, these words did not refer to the
feeling in their bellies. It simply meant, “give me more please.”
Let’s put this in perspective. I have never gone hungry,
even for a night. I know many people who have, and still do, but it is just not
something that I can identify with. I was born into a life that wasn’t all that
hard. My life has even been privileged compared to most of the world. Just
think that there are millions of people around the world that are never full.
There are millions of people in the world that miss meal after meal, yet are
satisfied. Yet I have more than I could ever need, but am never satisfied. I
always want more.
Its consumerism. Borderline idolatry (money and food can be an
idol if you let it). But mostly, its selfishness.
I see a lot of selfishness in myself. I forget that my life
is not mine, and I live it as if it is. I am not entitled to anything. What I
am given is a blessing from God and should be given back to him. But I
sometimes forget the difference between a “want” and a “need.” Thinking back
over the past month, I see the things that were really wants, but I treated
them as needs. Are these things really necessary? Do I need to go to McDonalds again?
Or the bakery? Did I need to go to the mall again? Did I need to buy those new
shirts?
Did I really give my life to God, or am I harboring a desire
to maintain control over my life? That is the question I ask myself now.
Because living for God means letting go of control and letting him take over. Our
God is the God who provides.
Today my prayer is for contentment. For satisfaction in what
God has given me…today. For release. And for divine provision and protection
for those friends that I have met this month who are not as lucky as we are,
yet who are content and satisfied that God has given them another day to live.
