How often do we think of the hungry of this world? Almost certainly, not as often as we should do. News reports of a famine may bring their plight to our attention for a time, but too often and easily we forget soon afterwards; a case of out of sight and out of mind. The following reflective prayer, from my book Touching the Seasons (see here for details of similar publications and https://nickfawcett.uk/category/personal-prayer/ for more personal prayer posts), challenges us in our day-to-day life to think beyond ourselves, remembering the hundreds of thousands who have so much less than we enjoy.
The second helping
I didn’t need any more,
for I was full already,
stuffed to the point of bursting,
but I couldn’t resist another helping
for it was delicious,
too good to turn down.
I regretted it later, mind –
cursed myself for a fool,
for instead of being pleasurably content,
I felt bloated,
uncomfortable, to say the least.
I don’t think of myself as a glutton, Lord,
but I am, sometimes,
eating far more than I need
while others go hungry.
Help me to recognise when enough is enough,
and instead of overfeeding myself
teach me to think of those not fed at all.
Amen.