The Hunger List (Matt. 7:12; 25:31-46)
Way back in nineteen eighty-seven,
My way confused, heard word from heaven
On page of Scripture – jumped right up,
It made this overflowing cup.I thought, “Perhaps some thing I’ve missed”
And knew that I would be remiss
If I did not return once more
And seek perhaps some open door.For I was stuck; my way was blocked;
I thought about this problem; talked
To God in prayer – no answer there;
So turned to Scripture in despair.Seven chapters in and there it was –
Misunderstanding was the cause
Of my demise – so like a flash
A list I made – my hunger stash.For I’d not seen it as a way
To do my life – but there it lay;
Like treasure lost within the field,
Now dusted off – what might it yield?My hunger-list poured from my pen;
I made my own; I shifted then
To ask what parts of others’ lives
Would fill it out – “like” and “despise”.For often by some lucky draw,
I’d missed some part of life quite raw;
But if I’d not, it would appear
Upon my list – that much was clear.And then I flipped my list around –
“Do that for other folks!” I found
A job description tailor-made
For me – it there before me lay.How simple – take your hunger-list,
And feed the folks whose diet’s missed
Those items, ’til they’re satisfied,
To where you’d be if you’d relied –On sources such for food each day,
To help your hunger to assuage;
Then pass them on to other guys
Whose hunger-lists next satisfy.We work short sections of some road,
Then circle back – take up new load,
And guide folks to that point again;
Then cycle back – address that pain.“In everything do that”, He’d said,
“From birth, through life, till you are dead;
You know that need, for you’ve been there;
In others’ lives make that repair.“For I was thirsty”, Jesus said,
“And hungry for such living bread;
You fed me, gave me food and drink,
Which satisfied – you knew, I think”.navigation