2 Timothy 3:16 – Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval. (God's Word Translation)

Last summer, we were camping with a group of family and friends. One morning, one fellow came out of his camper, only to meet face-to-face with a bear — yes, a real, live black bear — which was sitting and looking him in the eye! As soon as the bear realized that a person had appeared, he walked off into the nearby forest. As the camper watched him go, he noticed that the bear's one back leg was lame; hence, he went limping into the forest very slowly.

Later in the day, another group of campers said they had noticed a lame bear. Again that same day, some of the children saw the lame bear too.

This poor bear, which was hurting and likely not able to catch his own food, came to a group of campers, where there were food scraps to be found — some in the garbage, maybe some just lying around, maybe some in iceboxes. He knew where to go to get food that was easily accessible. The food would also help in healing more quickly.

We are lame as well, in one way or another. Some of us may have a visible limp — a physical limp. Some of us may have emotional baggage that is weighing us down. Some may have an elderly parent who is sick. Some of us may have just lost a parent, or maybe a child, or someone close to us. Whatever it is, we are limping slowly through life.

It would be good to learn from the bear. He took the risk and came close to people, to a group of human beings, where he could find some food. We could use this same principle, and choose to come close to others, where we know we will be fed. There we will find healing; there we are more able to let go of our baggage; there we can find grace, and experience God's love through others. They can help us to eat the right food, God's Word.

1 Peter 2:2 – Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God's pure kindness. Then you'll grow up mature and whole in God. (MSG)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, so often, when we are hurting or weighed down, we don't want to be around people. We want to isolate ourselves, but You have built us for relationships. We need others to help us along in the hard spots in life, to encourage us to eat the right kind of food. Help us to reach out to others among whom we can begin to heal. Help us most of all, to eat from Your Word the food that we so desperately need. Amen.

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About the author:

Judy Miller <gjmiller@telusplanet.net>
Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
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