“…he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ ‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. ‘Bring them here to me,’ He said. And He directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matthew 14:13-21)

Until a couple of weeks ago I viewed this story as: Well, of course Jesus fed 5,000 people. That is what He did/does. I may not be some biblical scholar but I consider myself pretty familiar with the accounts each Gospel presents. But when you read this account to a group of people who have never heard this story, much less do not even know who Jesus is, you get the reaction: “WHAT?! THAT ISN’T PRACTICAL.” Their jaws were dropped at Jesus. My jaw was dropped at: how do they not know?? (They are right, it isn’t practical to be able to feed that many men, and who knows how many women and children, with some crumbs and minnows.) All these people needed was to finally here about Jesus. And they were in awe.

Within the same week I found myself sitting in Sunday School on the edge of my seat. The teacher was retelling the faceoff between Baal and Yahweh, (as can be found in 1 Kings 18). I know this story. But it had been so long since it even came to mind. I sat there in awe as the teacher retold the story without even having to crack open a Bible. I must confess for far too long I have been hesitant to speak up about what God has done and is doing. It doesn’t seem very practical to just start talking about what matters most to me in life. What if I were to offend someone? Now I can write about it all day long, but to actually speak up? That takes courage.

I have been honored to be a part of The WordPlayers’ 2018 production of Walk, Don’t Ride! My cast mates and I told of people who had the courage to stand up (or sometimes stay sitting) and speak up against racist practices that pulsated for far too long in the veins of the United States of America.

We toured all over the greater Knoxville area and one particular performance brought a new look on this historical account. As I began speaking my opening line I almost became at a loss for words. For the first time on this tour we were sharing this story with a predominately African-American audience. I made eye contact with them and I was humbled. Unlike the school performances, I was sharing a story with them that was all too familiar to them. Most of the audience had lived through the history we were telling. They knew the songs we sang. They had experienced the hate. They had practiced meeting hate with love. They were filled with courage. I was filled with awe and realized just how “not practical” it is to actively go against the status quo so freedom and justice can dwell with us. To not be practical, people need to hear about the courage it takes and they will be in awe and have a mindset to go out and do the same. Go out and be brave. Go out and tell the stories of people being difference makers. Go out and tell what God has done and is doing.

– Melody Watts