I eat a banana every day at 10:15.
Ask anyone who’s near me around 10:15. “Yep, He does.” I like them. They’re good for me. I’m a creature of habit, as Shannon will tell you.
During worship on Sunday I realized I had forgotten my banana. It was probably the first time in 3 months I would go without my 10:15 banana. I decided instead of “leaving my gift at the altar” (Matt. 5:23), I should probably stay at church and go sans banana, because in the greater scheme of things, bananas probably come after both reconciliation and worship. Things got a bit rough, but I made it through the day.
On Monday, I teach from 10-12:45 at Biblical (now Missio). As I was going over to the classroom to set up I realized with horror that I forgot my banana again. Two days in a row! Would I survive?
Before class starts I briefly mention to the early crowd my banana problem. I turn around to talk to someone and when I come back to the podium, lo and behold, two bananas have magically appeared on my table. “A gift from the Lord.”
I felt like David in the cave of Adullam fighting against the Philistines (2 Sam. 23:13-17). In his thirst he says, “O that someone would give me water from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate.” Three of his warriors burst through the enemy line to retrieve water from the well and bring it back to David. David, in shock, refuses to drink the “blood” of his three men, pouring it out as a drink offering to YHWH instead.
I, being less noble than my namesake, ate the banana.
But I gave the other banana back to the divinely inspired provider, a Korean student named Leere Noh.
God often provides for us through people.